Air Bag Malfunction Lawsuit Injury Lawyer

When air bags work correctly, they save lives and reduce injuries during vehicle accidents. Unfortunately, when design or manufacturing errors occur, they can cause serious injuries and even death. Air bag malfunctions such as random, aggressive or non-deployment can put drivers and passengers at serious risk for injury.

Air bags can be placed in the front and sides of vehicles, creating a cushioned barrier from the framework of a vehicle during a crash. Although the inflated air bags are designed to absorb impact to reduce severe injuries to the body, they are far from soft pillows which emerge when needed. Air bags can deploy at speeds of up to 200 MPH, which may cause injury when it impacts the body. However, the minor injury of a correctly performing air bag is usually preferable to the injury that may occur if the occupant of the vehicle was thrown into the windshield, dashboard or vehicle exterior.

Types of Air Bag Malfunctions

If an air bag has a manufacturer defect or does not perform as designed, serious injuries may occur. Some types of air bag malfunctions or defects that have caused injuries include:

Random deployment – Not only can random deployment cause injury on its own, it may also pose a risk of distracting a driver, causing an actual accident to occur.

Venting issues – The gases that perpetuate deployment can cause burns or respiratory injuries if the air bags are not properly vented.

Aggressive deployment – When air bags deploy in an overly aggressive manner, they can cause injury from impact and may release metal into the occupants of the vehicle during combustion.

Non-deployment – If an air bag does not deploy when a collision occurs, the occupants of the vehicle may be thrown from the vehicle or seriously injured from impact.

Air bags are one of the safety features that are considered when purchasing a vehicle. If these safety devices malfunction and cause injury or death, the victim or their family may be able to pursue an auto product liability lawsuit. If you or a family member have been harmed from a malfunctioning air bag, contact our team at Conley Griggs Partin LLP. We will be happy to discuss your case during a free consultation.