Average settlement Amounts When Airbags Fail to Deploy
When airbags fail to deploy in a car accident, you can typically sue for compensation if you suffered injuries. Settlement amounts for airbag failure cases vary significantly based on your specific circumstances and injuries.
Settlement amounts for airbag non-deployment cases typically range from $20,000 for minor injuries to over $1 million for severe, life-altering injuries. The exact amount you can sue for depends on several key factors.
Did you spend three months in a coma in the hospital after a semi-trailer truck crashed into your car and the airbag failed to deploy? Or did you break your nose on the steering wheel when an old lady ran into the back of your vehicle while stopped at a stop sign?
These scenarios demonstrate how settlement values can range dramatically based on injury severity and circumstances.
The settlement value of a defective or malfunctioning airbag claim is primarily based on the severity of the personal injuries sustained in the car crash.
Beyond typical car accident claims, airbag failure cases often involve additional compensation from airbag manufacturers for defective products.
An airbag manufacturer could be sued and held liable for a defective product (the airbag) that caused or added to the overall injuries suffered in any car accident, regardless of who or what caused the accident.
Why Airbag Deployment Matters for Your Case
Airbags are designed to inflate rapidly during crashes, providing crucial protection that can mean the difference between minor and catastrophic injuries.
Airbags work with seat belts to provide the best possible protection. The seat belt keeps the occupant in place, while the airbag cushions the impact and helps distribute the crash’s force more evenly across the body.
When airbags fail to deploy, this critical protection is lost, often resulting in significantly more severe injuries and higher settlement values.
Common Reasons Airbags Fail to Deploy
There are several reasons why an airbag may fail to deploy. Understanding these causes can strengthen your legal case:
- Sensor Failure: Airbags deploy when sensors detect a crash.
- Electrical Malfunctions: Faulty electrical systems controlling the airbag can prevent deployment. This could be due to faulty wiring, blown fuses, or other electrical issues.
- Impact Angle: Airbags are designed to deploy in specific crash scenarios. If the impact occurs at an angle the airbag system wasn’t designed for, it may not deploy.
- Impact Severity: Very low-speed impacts or minor collisions may not trigger deployment. Similarly, if the impact is not severe enough.
- Defective Airbag: the airbag may be defective or damaged. This could be due to a manufacturing defects, damage during installation, or wear and tear. The major airbag manufacturer Takata has recalled millions of defective airbags and faced thousands of injury lawsuits.
Factors That Determine Your Settlement Amount
Your potential compensation amount depends on several key elements, including your injury severity, the state where the accident occurred, and the specific facts of your case.
Based on publicly-available case outcomes, typical settlement ranges include:
- Minor injuries (cuts, bruises): $20,000-$50,000
- Moderate injuries (broken bones, concussions): $50,000-$200,000
- Severe injuries (permanent disability, brain trauma): $200,000-$1,000,000+
- Catastrophic injuries (paralysis, death): $1,000,000+
Because defective airbag claims involve expert analysis of a vehicle’s safety systems, you should hire a product liability lawyer, who specializes in defective products, as quickly as possible after the accident. Your attorney will need to hire experts and secure access to the vehicle before any evidence is destroyed, tampered with, or lost.
If your car accident involves airbags that failed to deploy, you should hire a personal injury lawyer with specific experience in defective product cases.
Serious Injuries Resulting from Airbag Failure
When airbags fail to deploy victims commonly suffer:
- Head Trauma: concussions, skull fractures, and traumatic brain injuries.
- Facial Injuries: cuts, bruises, and facial broken bones.
- Chest Trauma: broken ribs, collapsed lungs, and internal organ damage.
- Spinal Injuries: spinal cord injuries that may cause paralysis or long-term disabilities.
- Neck Injuries: whiplash and cervical spine damage.
- Internal Organ Damage: liver, spleen, and kidney damage.
Successful Lawsuits and Settlements for Airbag Failure
Airbags have been the subject of product liability lawsuits since the late 1980s. Courts have consistently held manufacturers liable for airbag defects, resulting in substantial settlements and verdicts.
Recent notable settlements demonstrate the significant compensation available:
The Takata airbag recall resulted in a $1 billion criminal penalty and established a $1.46 billion victim compensation fund. Individual settlements from this defect have ranged from $50,000 to over $10 million depending on injury severity.
Other successful airbag failure cases include settlements where victims received $2.3 million for traumatic brain injuries, $1.8 million for spinal cord damage, and $950,000 for permanent facial disfigurement, all cases where proper airbag deployment could have prevented or reduced these injuries.
Manufacturers including General Motors, Ford, Toyota, and Honda have all faced successful lawsuits for airbag system failures, with courts finding liability based on design defects, manufacturing flaws, and inadequate safety testing.
In most cases, victims of airbag-related injuries successfully recovered damages from airbag manufacturers. Success rates for legitimate airbag failure cases with documented injuries can exceed 80% when handled by experienced product liability attorneys.
If an airbag failed to protect you, you should contact a product liability lawyer to discuss your legal options.
How Much You Can Sue for Airbag Failure
The amount of money you can receive for a defective airbag case depends on:
- The severity and extent of your injuries.
- Loss of past and future wages.
- Cost of medical treatments and ongoing care.
- Long-term disability and lifestyle impact.
- The airbag manufacturer’s knowledge of the defect.
- Manufacturer’s history of defective products can increase compensation.
These elements help determine your case value. Experienced attorneys evaluate all factors to estimate potential compensation.
Determine Your Case Value
If you were in a car accident where airbags failed to deploy and you sustained injuries, consult an attorney specializing in personal injury and product defect cases.
An experienced personal injury attorney can evaluate your case’s details to determine whether you have a viable claim. They help you understand your legal options, including filing a lawsuit or negotiating a settlement with the responsible party.
Strict time limitations exist for filing, so act quickly. An attorney helps ensure your case is filed within the appropriate time frame.
If you were injured in a car accident where airbags failed to deploy, speak with an attorney to receive the compensation you deserve.
Experienced Product Injury Attorneys
Our attorneys have over 27 years of experience representing people harmed by defective products in class action and personal injury lawsuits.
Why Choose Our Firm:
- No fees unless you win – Pay nothing out of pocket
- Millions recovered for injured clients
- Free, confidential case review
- Nationwide representation – Helping people in all 50 states
If you or a family member suffered injuries from this recalled product, you may be entitled to compensation. Act quickly as there are time limits on all legal claims.
Get a Free Consultation
