Educational Resources on Airbag Safety and Defects

Learn Everything You Need to Know About Airbag Safety from an Experienced Airbag Defect Lawyer

Airbags have been called “one of the most important safety innovations of recent decades.” This is from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS), which also reports that front and side-impact airbags can reduce drivers’ and passengers’ risk of suffering fatal injuries in a crash by 29 to 52 percent. But, while there is no question that airbags save lives, it is equally undisputed that defective airbags can be extremely dangerous. Unfortunately, tens of millions of vehicles sold in the United States over the past two decades were equipped with defective airbags—a fact that our airbag attorneys know all too well.

As airbag attorneys, we are passionate about helping people understand the risks associated with airbag defects. We are also passionate about helping victims and their families recover just compensation. With this in mind, we encourage you to use the information on this page to help protect yourself and your loved ones, and if you find yourself in need of an airbag defect lawyer, we invite you to contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation.

How Vehicle Airbags Work (or Are Supposed to Work)

The concept behind vehicle airbags is fairly simple: Airbags are attached to crash sensors placed in various locations throughout the vehicle. When one of these sensors detects a crash, it is supposed to send a signal to the vehicle’s airbags, telling them to inflate. When the vehicle’s airbags receive this signal, they are supposed to inflate almost instantaneously—in about 1/20th of a second, or roughly the blink of an eye.

When airbags inflate properly, they serve as a safety barrier between the vehicle’s occupants and the other interior components (e.g., the dashboard, windows, and steering wheel). This helps prevent serious injuries and, in some cases, accident-related deaths.

But, for a vehicle’s airbags to serve their intended purpose, every component of the airbag system needs to function correctly—from the crash sensors to the inflators in each individual airbag. If one of these components fails, then the entire system can fail—and this can mean that either (i) the vehicle’s airbags fail to deploy, (ii) the vehicle’s airbags deploy too slowly, or (iii) the vehicle’s airbags deploy with excessive force (or explode), causing injuries rather than preventing them.

5 Important Facts About Airbag Safety

This brings us to the topic of airbag safety. Here are five important airbag safety facts that you might not know:

1. Airbags Are Designed to Work With (Not Instead Of) Seatbelts

One of the most important safety facts to know about airbags is that they are designed to work with the vehicle’s seatbelts. In other words, if a vehicle is equipped with airbags (as is the case with all modern cars, trucks, and SUVs), this does not mean that wearing your seatbelt is unnecessary. On the contrary, manufacturers specifically design airbags to work in conjunction with the restraint that seatbelts provide. If you aren’t belted during a crash, this can result in your body moving too close to an airbag in front of or beside you, and this can increase your risk of suffering an airbag injury.

2. It Isn’t Always Safest for a Vehicle’s Airbags to Deploy

While it is safest for a vehicle’s airbags to deploy during a serious collision in most cases, there are exceptions. For example, if a front seat passenger is relatively short or relatively light (i.e. if the passenger is a smaller adult or a child), then the force of a frontal airbag’s deployment could present risks for serious injuries. In this scenario, relying solely on the passenger’s seatbelt could be the safer option. When it is safest for a passenger’s airbag not to deploy, either (i) the vehicle will disable the passenger’s airbags automatically, or (ii) it may be necessary to go to the dealership to have the vehicle’s passenger airbags disabled.

3. Airbags Are Not Designed to Stay Inflated

Not only are airbags designed to inflate rapidly, but they are designed to deflate rapidly as well. This helps provide the cushioning effect that prevents injuries without smothering the driver or passenger. In most cases, vehicle collisions happen relatively quickly, and by the time an airbag has inflated, it is already safe for it to begin deflating. With that said, there are exceptions (i.e., in the case of a vehicle rollover), and sometimes, a vehicle’s airbags will deflate too soon.

4. A Vehicle’s Airbags Cannot Be Reused Once They Deploy

If you are involved in a crash involving airbag deployment and your car, truck or SUV isn’t totaled, you need to get your airbags replaced. A vehicle’s airbags cannot be reused once they deploy. While upstanding dealerships and repair shops will not attempt to repack and reuse deployed airbags, you should not hesitate to ask if you have questions or concerns.

5. Many Types of Defects Can Cause Airbag Failures

While airbags can—and do—save lives, they also fail. When airbags fail, a defect is usually to blame. As we mentioned above, tens of millions of vehicles sold in the United States over the past two decades came equipped with defective airbags. The only way to know if your vehicle’s airbags are defective is to have them inspected at your local dealership. Dealerships are replacing defective airbags for free, and if you have not done so, you should find out if your vehicle’s airbags have been recalled (more on this below) and schedule an appointment to have them replaced if necessary.

5 Common Airbag Safety Defects

What makes an airbag defective? Airbags can be defective in several different ways. Any issue that causes an airbag to fail can be classified as a defect—and can entitle accident victims and their families to just compensation if they result in airbag-related injuries. Some of the most common airbag safety defects that can lead to serious or fatal injuries include:

1. Defective Airbag Inflators

The most common issue resulting in airbag-related injuries is a defective airbag inflator. It is now well-known that Takata sold tens of millions of airbags with defective inflators to most of the world’s leading automotive manufacturers (see a complete list). Defective airbag inflators present three very different—but equally dangerous—risks: (i) they can fail to inflate in the event of a crash; (ii) they can inflate without a crash and without warning; and (iii) instead of inflating properly, they can explode with extreme force and send shrapnel and metal fragments flying throughout the cabin.

2. Defective Crash Sensors

If a vehicle’s crash sensors are defective, its airbags won’t deploy. This presents obvious dangers, as it prevents the vehicle’s airbags from serving their intended purpose. While less common than defective airbag inflators, defective crash sensors are a very real concern as well.

3. Defective Airbag Electronics

Modern vehicles’ airbag systems rely heavily on electronics to work properly. This includes all components of these systems, from crash sensors and on/off switches to the inflator mechanisms inside of the airbags themselves. Just like other electronics in modern vehicles, airbag electronics can fail due to various causes. However, all of these causes can (and should) be prevented through proper design and good manufacturing practices.

4. Defective On/Off Sensors or Switches

Defective on/off sensors and switches can be dangerous as well. This is true whether they fail to disable a vehicle’s airbags or they disable a vehicle’s airbags when they aren’t supposed to. As we discussed above, it is safer for a vehicle’s airbags not to deploy in some cases. When this is the case, it is up to the vehicle’s on/off sensor or switch to make sure its airbags don’t deploy in the event of a crash.

5. Defective Airbag Design

Airbags can also be considered defective if their design makes them ineffective at protecting drivers and passengers. This could be the case, for example, if an airbag does not provide full protection from colliding with the dashboard, windshield or a side window during a collision. Even though manufacturers invest millions of dollars in designing state-of-the-art airbags, this doesn’t necessarily mean that the newest airbag designs will work how they are supposed to.

Recent Advancements in Airbag Technology Are Supposed to Mitigate the Risks (But Will They?)

Recently, we have seen several advancements in airbag technology that are supposed to both provide greater protection for occupants and mitigate the risk of failure. But will these new state-of-the-art airbags really be better than the old ones?

At this point, it remains to be seen. While it might seem hard to believe that a manufacturer would invest millions in developing new airbag technology that doesn’t work, we’ve seen this happen in the past. As a result, even if you have a new vehicle that is supposed to have high-tech airbags, you could still need an airbag defect lawyer who can help you assert your legal rights.

Current Airbag Safety Recalls and Alerts

It has now been almost 10 years since the start of the Takata airbag recall—which was one of the largest automotive recalls in U.S. history. In addition to the recalls issued by Takata itself, numerous manufacturers also issued recalls specific to their vehicles.

In 2023, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) also demanded that ARC issue a massive recall for its airbags following the discovery of concerns similar to those that plagued Takata’s airbags for years. While a small number of automotive manufacturers initially issued recalls for their ARC airbag-equipped vehicles, many manufacturers have since joined ARC in fighting the NHTSA’s recall demand. We have not seen any additional updates from the NHTSA since it issued an Alert in October 2023.

Have your vehicle’s airbags been recalled? You can find out here: Check for Recalls.

Steps to Take If You or a Loved One Has Been Harmed by an Airbag

If you or a loved one has been harmed by a defective airbag (or if you have concerns that you or a loved one may have been harmed by a defective airbag), what should you do? Here are some tips from our airbag attorneys:

1. Prioritize Your (or Your Loved One’s) Medical Needs

First and foremost, you should prioritize your (or your loved one’s) medical needs. Go to the doctor promptly (if you have not done so already) and be sure to explain that your injuries are airbag related.

2. Document the Airbag Deployment (if Possible)

If you are able to do so (and if you have not done so already), you should document your vehicle’s airbag deployment. This simply involves taking photos of your vehicle before it gets repaired or sent for salvage.

3. Write Down Everything You Know About the Accident

Along with documenting the airbag deployment (if possible), you should also write down everything you know about the accident. You should do this sooner rather than later, as your memory can quickly get fuzzy or start to fade.

4. Focus on the Recovery Process

When you have an airbag injury claim, it is important to focus on the recovery process. By doing everything you can to get better as quickly as possible, you will help maximize your chances of recovering full compensation for your injury-related losses.

5. Get Help from an Experienced Airbag Defect Lawyer

The first step toward seeking just compensation for your injury-related losses is talking to an experienced airbag defect lawyer. You can get started with a free, no-obligation consultation, and you won’t have to pay anything unless you win.

Schedule a Free Consultation with an Experienced Airbag Defect Lawyer Today

Do you need to know more about seeking just compensation for airbag-related injuries? If so, we strongly encourage you to contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation. To speak with an experienced airbag defect lawyer as soon as possible, call 866-247-2247 or tell us how we can get in touch online today.