Airbag Deployment Injuries Can Lead to Significant Costs—Learn About Your Legal Rights for Free
Airbags are designed to fully inflate in the event of a collision. Full inflation is essential for airbags to provide adequate protection, and, as a result, under-inflation can lead to serious airbag deployment injuries.
Since most airbags are designed to fully inflate, if an airbag only partially inflates there needs to be a reason why. Usually, this reason is an airbag defect. Airbag defects are alarmingly common, and they frequently result in serious injuries that could—and should—have been avoided.
Why Do Airbags Only Partially Deploy?
If you or a loved one has suffered injuries due to partial airbag deployment, you may have a strong claim for financial compensation from the airbag or vehicle manufacturer. But, to file a successful claim, you will need to have evidence of the specific issue that caused the airbag in question to only partially deploy.
When we represent individuals and families in airbag partial deployment cases, one of our first steps is to thoroughly examine the vehicle and airbag involved. The purpose of this examination is twofold:
- To clearly document the fact that the airbag (or airbags) in question only partially deployed; and,
- To identify the specific issue that caused the partial deployment.
Most often, partial airbag deployments are due to either electrical issues or issues with the airbag’s inflator mechanism. Modern vehicles’ electrical systems are extraordinarily complex, and various electrical failures can disrupt the signals between a vehicle’s crash sensors and its airbag inflators. If a crash sensor fails or if the signal telling an airbag inflator to activate gets disrupted, this can result
in partial deployment and serious airbag deployment injuries.
Issues with airbags’ inflator mechanisms themselves can cause under-inflation as well. If an inflator mechanism has a leak that allowed the gasses inside to escape, if it has corroded, or if it was not properly armed and activated at the factory, these are all issues that could cause a partial deployment.
What Are the Risks of Airbag Under-Inflation?
The risks of airbag under-inflation can be severe. Since most airbags are designed to fully deploy, partial deployment necessarily means that their ability to protect drivers and passengers is compromised. While an under-inflated airbag may help to prevent injuries or mitigate the severity of injuries in some scenarios, in many cases an under-inflated airbag will not provide any protection at all.
As a result, the consequences of partial deployment are often the same as the consequences of late deployment or non-deployment. With this in mind, some examples of common airbag deployment injuries caused by partial deployment and under-inflation include:
- Back and spinal cord injuries
- Chest injuries (including contusions, rib fractures and collapsed lungs)
- Concussions and other forms of TBI
- Facial injuries (including nose and jaw injuries)
- Neck injuries (including whiplash)
These types of airbag deployment injuries (among others) can cause severe pain and physical limitations, and they will often have long-term effects. They will typically lead to significant costs as well. With this in mind, if you believe that you or a loved one may have suffered injuries due to partial airbag deployment, we strongly encourage you to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible. You may be entitled to financial compensation for your current and future losses, and if you have a claim, you can hire a lawyer to represent you at no out-of-pocket cost.
FAQs: Seeking Just Compensation for Airbag Deployment Injuries
What Are My Rights if I Suffered Injuries Due to Partial Airbag Deployment?
If you suffered injuries due to partial airbag deployment, you have the right to seek just compensation for all of the losses you incur as a result of your injuries. This includes not only out-of-pocket losses, such as medical expenses and lost wages, but also non-financial losses, such as pain and suffering. You also have the right to hire a lawyer to seek just compensation on your behalf, and hiring a lawyer to handle your airbag injury claim should cost you nothing out of pocket.
What Should I Do if I Suffered Injuries Due to Partial Airbag Deployment?
Any time you suffer injuries in a vehicle accident, your first priority should be to get the medical care you need. Then, once you are stable, your next priority should be to speak with a lawyer about your legal rights. We provide free initial consultations for all cases involving airbag deployment injuries, and you can contact us 24/7.
How Much Can I Recover for Airbag Deployment Injuries Caused By Airbag Under-Inflation?
The amount you can recover for your injuries depends on your individual circumstances. Your losses (both present and future) are unique to you. When you hire an experienced lawyer to represent you, your lawyer will make sure that you are seeking the full financial compensation you deserve.
How Do I File a Claim for Injuries Caused By Airbag Under-Inflation?
Filing a claim for injuries caused by airbag under-inflation is very different from filing a “normal” insurance claim after a vehicle collision. As a result, it is extremely important to have an experienced lawyer on your side. Along with making sure that you are seeking the full financial compensation you deserve, your lawyer can also guide you through the process step by step.
Can a Lawyer Help Me if I Have Airbag Deployment Injuries?
Yes, if you have a claim for airbag deployment injuries, there are many ways an experienced lawyer can help you. To give yourself the best chance of recovering just compensation, you should speak with an experienced lawyer as soon as possible.
Talk to a Lawyer About Seeking Just Compensation for Your Airbag Deployment Injuries
Do you need to know more about filing a claim for airbag deployment injuries? If so, we encourage you to contact us promptly. To arrange a free, no-obligation consultation with an experienced lawyer as soon as possible, please call 866-247-2247 or contact us online today.