Whether you cause a car accident or fall victim to one, you expect the airbags to deploy during your crash to keep you and your passengers safe.
Some accidents are not severe enough to warrant airbag protection, but when they fail to deploy during a major accident, the results can be devastating.
Continue reading to understand possible reasons why your airbags might not deploy and what to do if defects are present.
Potential Reasons Your Airbags Didn’t Deploy
Airbag activation depends on a variety of factors including the speed and direction of the crash, the design of the system, and the location of the crash sensors. Airbags are not intended to deploy in all crashes.
According to the NHTSA, here are some possible reasons why your airbags might not deploy:
- The crash conditions are not severe enough to warrant airbag protection. Seat belts are the first line of defense in a car crash. During a low impact collision, they should provide sufficient protection.
- No person was detected in the passenger seat. Most advanced frontal airbag systems only activate if enough weight is placed on the seat. For this reason, children or individuals with small statures should avoid riding in the front seat.
- In used vehicles, there may be no airbags. If you drive a used vehicle that has previously been involved in a crash where the airbags deployed, they might not have been replaced after the incident.
- In severe crashes, vital electrical wires could have been compromised. Occasionally an impact can be so severe that the electrical wires responsible for controlling the airbag system are severed, causing deactivation.
- There may be manufacturing defects. Defective sensors, electrical components, and modules might be responsible for an airbag’s failure to deploy.
Types of Airbag Defects
Defective airbags are incredibly dangerous and unfortunately not uncommon. Currently, there is a recall for Takata airbags that the NHTSA has called “the largest and most complex safety recall in U.S. history.” An airbag can have many different types of malfunctions, including:
- Defective crash sensors
- Complications with the computer controls or electrical components
- Issues within the airbag module
It is crucial to regularly check if your car’s airbag system is under recall. These defects are free to fix and doing so could save your life.
Proving Manufacturer Liability
When compiling your liability case, your attorney will need to establish:
- The airbags did not deploy but should have.
- They did not deploy because of manufacturing defects.
- You sustained injuries because they did not deploy.
Your attorney will work to provide you with compensation in the form of medical expenses, emotional distress, lost wages, ongoing care costs, and pain and suffering.
Contact Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton
If your airbags did not deploy during a crash and you have sustained injuries, Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton can help. Our experienced attorneys have handled many product liability cases and are ready to fight to ensure that you are justly compensated for your damages.
Our offices are located in Orem, Provo, Saratoga Springs, and West Jordan, Utah. Contact us today to discuss the details of your case and find out how we can help.