Does My Car Have Defective Airbags?

Airbags are an essential vehicle safety feature. When airbags are defective, the consequences can be severe. One of the largest airbag recalls, the Takata airbag recall, has been tied to 250 reported injuries and 15 deaths.  

There are many reasons you may suspect your airbags are defective—maybe you were in a collision, and your airbags failed to deploy, or they deployed at the wrong time. Keep reading to learn how to find out if you have defective airbags.   

How to Check if You Have Defective Airbags 

If your vehicle is affected by a faulty airbag, it may be under recall. A recall is an action taken by a manufacturer, such as an automaker, to warn consumers about a product that may cause injury. If an airbag is found to be defective, a manufacturer will typically issue a recall to notify the public of the defect and urge them to replace or repair the airbag. 

One example of a widespread defective airbag recall is the Takata airbag recall. The defective Takata airbags have affected approximately 67 million airbags in vehicles manufactured by many automakers. These airbags can explode or rupture when deployed, posing a serious risk to drivers.  

Luckily, there is a way to check if your vehicle is under an official recall. Visit the NHTSA website to enter the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) for your vehicle. 

Signs of a Defective Airbag 

Unfortunately, a defective airbag may not be evident until after it is activated in a collision. Let’s say you’ve verified that your vehicle is not affected by an airbag recall. You may still have reason to suspect your airbag is defective, particularly if your airbag has injured you. There are a few significant signs that your airbag is faulty: 

• The airbag explodes or ruptures; 
• The airbag fails to deploy; 
• The airbag deploys at the wrong time; 
• The airbag deployed with too much force. 

What Do I Do If I was Injured Due to a Defective Airbag? 

If a malfunctioning airbag has contributed to your injury, you may be entitled to compensation. In defective airbag cases, a manufacturer is likely at fault for producing the product and putting consumers at risk of injury. In this case, a defective auto parts lawyer can help you file a claim or lawsuit to hold the liable party accountable.  

Victims of defective airbags may be eligible for compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and diminished quality of life.  

There are other measures you can take after suffering a defective airbag injury to prepare to file a claim for compensation. This may include collecting evidence such as photos of the airbag or accident and seeing a medical provider to create a record of your injuries. 

Contact a Defective Airbag Attorney Today  

If you suffer an injury due to a defective auto part, there is no time to waste. The team at William Mattar P.C. is here to help. Our  injury lawyers have the experience to handle injury cases involving motor vehicle product liability. Just call (844) 444-4444 today to speak to a member of our team.