Airbag Injuries: Can I Sue?

Airbags are widely recognized for saving lives in car accidents. Yet airbags can also cause serious injuries themselves, ranging from burns and abrasions to fractures, eye injuries, hearing damage, and even death. If you suffered an airbag-related injury, questions often arise about who may be legally responsible and whether a lawsuit is possible. The answer depends on how the crash occurred and whether the airbag functioned properly.

Types of Airbag Injuries

Airbags inflate rapidly using chemical propellants and significant force. Common airbag injuries include:

• Facial cuts, fractures, and permanent scarring.
• Chemical burns and abrasions.
• Eye injuries.
• Neck and spinal injuries, including whiplash.
• Chest and shoulder injuries.

Suing the At-Fault Driver

In many cases, airbag injuries begin with the crash itself. If another driver’s negligence caused the collision that triggered your airbag deployment, you may have a personal injury claim against that driver. Speeding, distracted driving, running red lights, or failing to yield are common causes of crashes that result in airbag deployment. In a typical negligence claim, the injured person seeks compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages caused by the accident.

Airbag injuries are often included in these claims because they are considered part of the harm caused by the crash. Even if the airbag worked as intended, the negligent driver can still be responsible for injuries related to its deployment.

Product Liability and Defective Airbags

Some airbag injuries result from a malfunction or a defect rather than the crash alone. Airbags can deploy too forcefully, deploy when no collision occurs, fail to deploy when needed, or deploy in a way that worsens injuries. Faulty sensors, defective inflators, and improper design have all been associated with harmful deployments.

In defective airbag cases, product liability law may apply. The vehicle manufacturer, airbag manufacturer, or component suppliers could be held responsible for defects in design, manufacturing, or failure to warn. Unlike negligence claims against another driver, product liability focuses on whether the product was unreasonably dangerous and whether that danger caused the injury. These claims often require expert evaluation to determine how the airbag system malfunctioned and who in the supply chain bears responsibility.

Multiple Parties May Be Held Liable

Liability after an airbag injury is not always limited to a single defendant. In a crash caused by a careless driver and made worse by a defective airbag, both the negligent motorist and the product manufacturer may share financial responsibility. Insurance carriers may also play a role, depending on the coverage of the parties involved. Determining fault requires evidence from several sources, including the crash scene, police reports, medical evaluations, and data from the vehicle’s internal systems.

Is There a Time Limit to File a Claim?

All personal injury and product liability claims are subject to “statutes of limitations,” meaning there is a deadline for filing a lawsuit. If you wait too long, you may lose the ability to recover compensation. Product liability cases may also involve evidence preservation issues. The airbag module, sensors, and crash data may need to be retained for testing. For this reason, contacting a lawyer soon after the injury helps protect both your rights and the evidence necessary to prove your case.

Getting Legal Help After an Airbag Injury

Airbag injury cases can become complex quickly because they blend elements of car accident law, engineering, product safety, and insurance. A lawyer experienced in handling these claims can investigate the cause of the crash, evaluate whether a defect contributed to the injury, identify all potential defendants, and pursue compensation on your behalf.

Airbag Injuries From a Crash? Our Cheektowaga Car Accident Lawyers at Dan Chiacchia Injury Attorneys Can Help

If you have suffered airbag injuries in a crash, contact our Cheektowaga car accident lawyers at Dan Chiacchia Injury Attorneys for help understanding your legal options. For a free case review, call today at 716-648-3030 or complete our online contact form. Located in Hamburg, New York, we proudly serve clients in the surrounding areas.