Airbags are an essential safety feature in our cars, trucks, and SUVs. Every year, airbags reduce the amount of front-seat fatalities by 32%. Airbags are designed to deploy at specific forces and speeds, helping protect you against injuries.
When you operate your vehicle, you assume that the airbags will function as they should in the event of a car accident. Unfortunately, there have been accidents when an airbag didn’t deploy. Some mistakes can happen during the manufacturing process that could cause airbag problems.
If you were recently injured in a car accident with a faulty airbag, you might be able to seek compensation for your injuries. This guide will discuss some of the reasons why your airbag might not have gotten deployed and what steps you can take to recover damages.
Why Didn’t My Airbag Deploy?
All trucks and passenger cars require airbags. They must be located on the passenger and driver’s side of the vehicle. Some cars have airbags in the backseat for additional protection.
Defective Airbag Sensors
If your collision’s impact should’ve triggered your airbag to go off and it didn’t, there might be something wrong with the sensors. The sensors could’ve either failed to deploy your airbag or sense the impact.
Some of the reasons you might have defective airbags sensors include:
- Improperly designed, tested, or installed sensors
- Failure in calibration or software of the airbag’s firing threshold
- Not enough sensors to sense a car accident
The Type of Collision You Had
The nature of your car accident will also affect whether or not your airbags go off. Where your vehicle gets struck affects if your airbag sensors get triggered.
For example, front airbags might not get deployed during the following types of crashes:
- Rollover collisions
- Rear impact accidents
- Side impact crashes
The location of where your car got struck plays more of a role in airbag deployment than how much your car was damaged or the other vehicle’s speed. You should expect your front airbags to go off in moderate or severe crashes to the front part of your car.
Severed Wires
Another cause of airbag issues is severed wiring issues. A manufacturer might route certain wires in vulnerable areas, which can result in them getting cut during a crash. Impact signals can fail to reach the airbag module if the wires are severed.
Defective Electrical Parts
A faulty airbag can also get caused by defective electrical wiring or components. These features are designed to send crash signals to your airbags.
If these items are defective or designed poorly, airbag failure can occur. This type of problem can arise in accidents where some airbags deploy while others don’t.
Problems With Airbag Modules
An issue with the airbag module can prevent an airbag from deploying. For example, the airbag’s impact signals might’ve identified that you were in a collision. The signals could’ve told the airbag to deploy, but the module failed to comply.
Problems with the airbag modules are typically caused by manufacturing defects. Design problems can result in these issues as well.
No Airbag
If you purchased a used vehicle, it might’ve gotten involved in a previous accident. Airbags are supposed to get replaced if they’re deployed. However, in some cases, the airbag might not have gotten replaced.
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be confusing trying to navigate a case where your airbags didn’t deploy in an accident. Let’s discuss some of our most commonly asked questions.
Should My Airbags Deploy in a Fender Bender?
Not all car accidents involve head-on collisions. Getting hit from behind can still cause injuries. However, fender-benders rarely cause your airbags to go off.
While airbags are designed to protect us from injuries, they’re very forceful when they go off. Your airbag going off during a fender-bender might cause more damage. Keeping your seatbelt on at all times can help protect you from getting injured in scenarios where your airbags don’t go off.
Can I Sue if My Airbags Don’t Go Off?
You can sue if your airbags don’t deploy during an auto accident. You must consult an attorney with experience in airbag lawsuits. Multiple parties can get held liable, so it’s important to partner with someone familiar with the process.
How Do Airbags Work?
Airbags are designed to provide drivers and passengers protection when used in conjunction with seatbelts. When you get in a collision, your airbags inflate. This prevents you from hitting the:
- Windshield
- Dashboard
- Steering wheel
They also help you from getting ejected from the vehicle. When your vehicle is involved in a collision, the airbag sensors get activated. The sensors send out an electronic message that releases gas, which inflates the airbag.
A functioning airbag can inflate within 40 milliseconds. They should deflate after they’re deployed, helping protect against suffocation. Once an airbag has gotten deployed, the information about the collision will get kept in the airbag module.
What Are Common Airbag Malfunctions and Defects?
As we’ve talked about, airbags don’t get deployed in every collision. Airbags can malfunction in other ways besides failing to deploy.
Some common malfunctions include:
- Accidental deployments, like if you hit a curb or a pothole
- Overly aggressive deployment
- Delayed deployment after a person has already gotten injured
- Exploding airbags
Unnecessary airbag inflation can result in injuries. It might even cause the driver to get in a car accident or lose control. Too aggressive deployment can also be harmful, especially to children.
What Are Injuries Caused by Airbag Failure?
You can get injured in several ways if your airbag fails to deploy or malfunctions. These injuries might include:
- Damage to your face and neck
- Broken bones
- Spinal damage
- Herniated discs
- Internal bleeding
Find Out Why Your Airbag Didn’t Deploy
Determining the reason why your airbag didn’t deploy is essential in an airbag lawsuit. Identifying the at-fault party will assist you in building a case for seeking compensation for your injuries. A professional personal injury attorney can help.
At Newsome Melton, our team of experienced lawyers have worked on airbag failure lawsuits. We have the skills needed to argue on your behalf, getting the best results possible. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.