Over the past year, airbags have been in the news for many of the wrong
reasons. Several automakers have been forced to issue recalls for defective
airbags. The most prominent airbag recall involved nearly 8 million vehicles
containing defective Takata airbags that potentially propel metal shrapnel
upon deployment.
Defective Airbags
Most airbags are located inside the steering wheel or in the dashboard
panel and are connected to a crash sensor. The sensor sends a signal to
deploy the airbag when the vehicle is in a severe collision. The purpose
of the airbag is to protect the driver and passengers, but in the case
of defective airbags, they have been known to cause additional injuries
that can be fatal.
Malfunctioning Airbags
Airbags deploy in a fraction of a second at speed over 100 miles per hour.
When an airbag malfunctions, it is generally caused by a malfunctioning
crash sensor that (a) does not deploy the airbag, (b) deploys the airbag
at the wrong time, or (c) deploys one airbag but not another.
Filing a Product Liability Lawsuit
If you have been injured in a collision in which the airbag malfunctioned,
you could bring a
product liability lawsuit against the manufacturer of the airbag. Depending on the facts
of the case, there may be several other parties that a claim could be
brought against as well. The vehicle’s manufacturer or any party
that was responsible for maintenance, inspection or replacement of the
airbag could potentially share in liability.
In order to bring a product liability claim for a defective airbag, it
will be important that you preserve the evidence (i.e. the airbag). After
an accident, it may be difficult to immediately recover the airbag, but
even if you cannot retrieve the airbag, taking pictures of the defective
product will help.
Finding a Product Liability Attorney
If you have been injured by a defective airbag, you should consult with
an experienced product liability attorney as soon as possible. Once you
have hired an attorney, an investigation team can be sent to gather as
much evidence as possible to support your claim. At Arnold & Itkin,
we offer free initial consultations to inform you about your legal rights.
Contact our product liability attorneys today to learn how we can help you.
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