In the US, front airbags have been mandatory since 1999. Most cars today have an optional side airbag.
Airbags are designed to help reduce injuries to drivers and passengers when accidents occur. They slow down the speed of the crash, softening the impact.
Unfortunately, the number of airbag lawsuits points to the technology not performing to standard.
What happens when your airbags do more harm than good? Keep reading to learn more about defective airbags and what should be done if you’re injured because airbags didn’t deploy.
Types of Airbag Lawsuits
Hiring an accident lawyer to file an airbag lawsuit isn’t as simple as you may think. When airbags deploy, chances are you will sustain minor injuries. These injuries are usually bruising that occurs as the bag comes in contact with the passenger.
If your airbag was working properly and you got hurt, you probably won’t be able to sue for damages. It’s more likely that the airbag saved your life or prevented a severe injury.
A good accident attorney will explain the uphill battle of proving the airbag was defective. Defects generally mean the airbags didn’t deploy when it was supposed to or didn’t deploy at all.
Here are three types of airbag issues that can lead to airbag lawsuits.
Design Defect
It may seem strange, but the design of the airbag can cause significant injuries. Design defects include premature deployment, misplaced sensors, and not accounting for passenger weight or height.
Failure to Warn
Failure to warn is when the manufacturer didn’t warn consumers about the dangers that could have been avoided. Or they didn’t issue a recall when they learned of a defect.
Manufacturing Defect
A manufacturing defect is when the airbag isn’t working as it should, even though it was designed properly.
If you experience any of these three failures, consider speaking with a product defects lawyer. The right attorney can advise about a claim and the next steps.
Filing Airbag Lawsuits
In order to file a lawsuit for defective airbags, you will need to prove a link between the injuries and the faulty airbag. Your accident lawyer may need the help and testimony of accident reconstruction specialists, engineers, and medical specialists.
Various injuries can occur from a faulty airbag. Injuries include but aren’t limited to the following:
- Dental injuries
- Eye injuries
- Facial and jawbone fractures
- Lacerations
- Puncture wounds
- Skull fractures
- Death
In serious accidents, injured passengers more than likely will be transferred from the scene by ambulance. If not, it’s still vital to seek medical attention immediately. Documentation of all injuries and the defective airbag is crucial to the case.
Choosing a Winter Park Lawyer
If you’re looking for a product defects lawyer in Winter Park, you’ve come to the right place! Our lawyers help clients to get the most out of their airbag lawsuits.
We’ve helped many people injured due to defective airbags. We love to help clients receive the compensation they deserve.
Get in touch with us today and we can discuss your options and give you a case evaluation.