Airbag Injury Litigation Involving Illinois Vehicles

Defective airbags can cause severe injuries when they fail to deploy, deploy too late, partially inflate, or rupture violently during a collision. While airbags are intended to protect vehicle occupants, design and manufacturing defects have led to widespread recalls and serious injuries nationwide. Our firm focuses on complex airbag defect litigation on a national level and works with experienced local co-counsel in jurisdictions where injuries occur, subject to applicable court approval.

Vehicles operated in Illinois have been involved in incidents where airbag malfunctions resulted in significant injuries. Determining whether an airbag defect contributed to an injury often requires a careful review of crash circumstances, vehicle systems, and medical records.

Common Causes of Airbag-Related Injuries

Airbag injuries may arise from a variety of failures, including:

• Failure of an airbag to deploy
  • Delayed airbag deployment
  • Partial or incomplete inflation
  • Explosive airbag ruptures involving inflator defects

These failures can result in head injuries, chest trauma, arm injuries, burns, lacerations, and other serious harm. Because defect-related injuries are not always immediately obvious, further investigation is often necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions After an Airbag-Related Accident

Does airbag deployment mean a vehicle is totaled?
Airbag deployment alone does not necessarily mean a vehicle is totaled. Insurance companies evaluate the total cost of repairs compared to the vehicle’s value when making this determination.

Is it legal to sell a vehicle with faulty airbags?
Illinois law prohibits knowingly selling a vehicle with nonfunctional or defective airbags. Manufacturers and sellers may be held responsible when defective airbags cause injuries.

How long do injury claims generally take after a collision in Illinois?
Illinois generally imposes a two-year deadline for filing personal injury claims, including those involving defective airbags. Certain circumstances may affect how this deadline applies.

Is legal assistance necessary for airbag injury claims?
Airbag defect matters often involve complex technical and legal issues. Many individuals choose to seek legal guidance to better understand their rights and options.

Discussing Airbag Defect Litigation

Our practice is devoted to handling airbag defect matters nationwide, frequently in coordination with local counsel where permitted. If an injury involving an airbag malfunction occurred in a vehicle operated in Illinois, the circumstances may warrant further review to determine whether a defect contributed to the harm.

Attorney David P. Willis is licensed in Texas and New York and works with local counsel in other jurisdictions where permitted by law. Consultations are confidential, and there is no cost to discuss whether an airbag defect may have played a role in an injury.