Defective Airbags and Car Accidents - What You Should Know

Airbags were invented and designed to keep drivers and passengers safe when they are involved in automobile accidents. The airbag deploys on impact and prevents the individual from coming into contact with hard surfaces, such as the dashboard or steering wheel, therefore attempting to decrease the chance for death, brain injuries, and other serious physical injuries.

Although airbags were designed with safety in mind, there have been many cases where faulty airbags actually case harm and is come cases, even death. There have been numerous reports of airbags failing to inflate on impact and also those where the airbag did deploy when no accident occurred. Airbag malfunctions can result in facial fractures, blindness, head injury, eye injury and various other types of injuries.

Design and manufacturing defects are likely a cause of many airbag injuries. While most vehicles display visible airbag warnings to inform drivers and passengers of the possible hazards associated with the use of airbags they cannot prevent them by just mentioning them. If an airbag fails to inflate upon impact a person may experience serious injuries just like those sustained in vehicles that do not have airbags. Also, if an airbag deploys when there is no accident or impact, an individual may also suffer from serious physical injuries from the airbag deploying when not expected.

The back seat is typically the safest area of the car so it is highly recommended that small children be placed in the rear area of the car away from the air bag. With that in mind, it is very important to have all children in the back seat when a vehicle has front airbags. Airbags were designed to provide safety for adults weighing approximately 180 pounds and measuring approximately 5'8". The results of the most recent airbag studies show that children and adults smaller than the "average adult size" are at a higher risk for airbag related injuries including sever face injuries, blindness, and fractures.


Personal injury law is designed to protect individuals and families from financial and physical injuries caused by negligence. Car accident lawyers, truck accident attorneys, and personal injury attorneys have the knowledge and expertise to protect your legal rights and help resolve your case.