The force of a car crash puts your safety in the hands of multiple vehicle protection systems. Your car’s airbags need to respond within a fraction of a second to shield you from severe impact injuries.
Yet these safety devices sometimes fail to activate during accidents, leaving drivers and passengers vulnerable to injuries that proper deployment could have prevented. People who survive crashes without airbag protection often face extensive medical bills and long recovery periods.
Why airbags might fail in a crash
Many factors can prevent airbags from deploying when you need them most. Your next steps depend on understanding what went wrong:
- Manufacturing problems: Poor quality control at the factory creates faulty sensors and unreliable wiring connections
- Poor maintenance: Skipped service appointments and incorrect repairs damage critical safety components
- Bad sensors: Worn-out or broken crash detectors miss the signals that trigger deployment
- Disabled systems: Careless mechanics or previous owners may have turned off vital safety features
Your rights to compensation depend on proving exactly how your airbag system failed.
Protecting your rights after an airbag failure
Quick action after a crash helps build a strong case for compensation. Take these essential steps:
- Photograph all vehicle damage
- Get medical care right away
- Call your insurance company
- Submit a safety report to the NHTSA about the defect
- Keep your damaged vehicle
- Talk to a lawyer about your case
Legal help can make an astounding difference in identifying who should pay for your injuries.
Failed airbags can turn survivable accidents into life-changing events. Speaking with an experienced Indiana attorney helps you understand your options for recovering medical costs, lost income and other expenses from those responsible for the airbag failure.