Airbags are one of the most effective safety innovations of the past 50 years. Thanks to their widespread adoption, the number of fatalities has decreased substantially. Airbags provide cushion to motorists, so they do not slam into the steering wheel or dashboard at full force.
However, airbag injuries are common. An airbag is a complicated safety device, and they sometimes do not deploy as planned. If you are injured, then you can seek compensation from the driver who crashed into you or forced you from the road. Call to speak with a Chicago car accident lawyer today.
How Airbags Work
Airbags are effective because they rapidly inflate, providing a cushion to a motorists’ head and neck. Modern airbags are connected to sensors which constantly measure changes in vehicle speed. When a vehicle rapidly decelerates, consistent with an accident, then the sensors send a signal to the airbag inflator, which uses chemicals to create a large volume of gas.
As the gas fills the airbag, it deploys through the steering wheel. All of this happens in under a second, providing safety to a motorist so they do not suffer horrifying impact injuries.
What Can Go Wrong
Any number of things can go wrong that result in injuries to a motorist.
- Shrapnel ejected. Sometimes pieces of plastic or even metal are ejected with the airbag. This shrapnel can cut a person’s face, leading to injuries and scarring. The shrapnel could get into the system during installation, or the inflator could explode and eject pieces of metal.
- Hot gases. A motorist could be burned when an airbag explodes and emits hot gases.
- Too much force. Airbags are designed to eject rapidly but with appropriate force. A poorly designed airbag might end up injuring someone in the face if it deploys too forcefully.
- Failure to eject. The airbag might fail entirely, which contributes to more serious injuries.
These accidents result in significant injuries: eye damage, facial fractures, disfigurement, broken noses, burns, and even concussions or other traumatic brain injuries. We have seen people unable to work for months or longer when they are hurt in a crash.
You might not know if the airbag deployed properly. That’s okay, you can contact our law firm. We will review what happened. Remember not to immediately fix your car, because that would erase critical evidence: the airbag system. We can bring a stronger case if we can actually see the airbag, sensors, and inflator as they existed right after your crash.
Who is Responsible for Airbag Injuries?
A thorough investigation is necessary to pinpoint fault. Generally, you might seek compensation from any of the following:
1. The driver who struck you. Most airbags deploy because a car is struck, as in a head-on collision, or else is forced from the road. The driver who caused you to crash is responsible for the accident, even if you are hurt by an airbag. You can probably sue them or submit a claim on their liability insurance.
2. The airbag manufacturer. A defect in the bag or system could have resulted in injuries. For example, sensors could be faulty, or the system was designed improperly. You can sue a manufacturer for selling a defective product.
3. The car manufacturer. The company that installed the airbag is usually liable for defective component parts. For example, you might be injured by an airbag inside a Toyota. Even if Toyota did not manufacture the bag, they are usually a defendant because they manufactured the car.
One or all of the above could be defendants in your case. Your attorney will review how to submit claims for compensation. An individual driver should have liability insurance to pay compensation, but they might only have the state minimum. Illinois currently only requires that drivers carry $25,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per injured victim.
A car manufacturer will have more liability insurance to cover a larger settlement. Call our office so our legal team can begin combing through the evidence.
Was Your Airbag Recalled?
Recalls are common in the auto industry. Takata made news in 2013 when it issued a wide-ranging recall of its air bags after several people died due to explosions. Over the ensuing decade this recall has only continued to widen, with more than 60 million vehicles requiring airbag replacements.
But there have been other recalls. General Motors issued a recall in 2025 after tests showed that some airbag inflators could explode. During manufacturing, debris got inside the inflators, causing them to fail at the weld joint. When an inflator explodes, metal pieces can fly through the compartment and cut any occupant.
Stay on top of the most recent airbag recalls by visiting the National Highway Transportation System Administration website. And get repairs if the manufacturer recommends them.
A recall is strong proof the air bag system is defective in design or manufacture. However, you can only bring a personal injury case if you suffer injuries, especially bodily injuries. For that reason, head to the hospital and receive medical care. And then hold onto all medical records to show to your attorney. We have requested compensation for medical care, lost income, car damage, mental distress, and pain and suffering.
Can You Receive a Settlement?
The main challenge is establishing fault for your injuries. We might end up suing both the driver who hit you and the airbag manufacturer for compensation to cover economic and non-economic damages.
Airbag injuries are often more serious than other injuries because the face is disfigured in the accident. These injuries often result in emotional distress, including shame or embarrassment. A person’s intimate relationship might fail after a disfiguring injury.
What happens if you are notified of a recall but don’t have your car fixed? That could undermine your legal rights because you chose not to fix a known problem. Let our legal team review the specific facts.
Call Our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Today
Kennedy Watkins LLC can handle your car accident case. We have won millions in settlements and verdicts for our clients. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a member of our legal team.