Automotive Defect: Airbag Failure to Deploy

2009 April 8
by Justin Hill

Air bag defects typically are segregated into two categories–either an airbag fails to deploy or an airbag deploys in an unreasonably dangerous manner. I am going to address the first scenario. In a later post, I will address dangerous deployment

Identifying a potential failure to deploy case consists of seeing if an airbag deployed in an accident that should have warranted deployment. The science behind when an airbag should deploy is more complex than that, but at first glance, an attorney should be able to tell if there is a potential failure to deploy case. The next step, after identifying a potential case, is determining if the collision itself was of the type that should trigger the airbag system to deploy. After it is determined that the circumstances warranted deployment range, the reason for non-deployment must be investigated.

There are a variety of reasons for non-deployment. The sensors relaying the data to trigger deployment could be defective. The mechanism to deploy the bag could be defective. Currently, there is pending litigation throughout the nation regarding certain Chrysler vehicles and failure of their airbags to deploy. These cases allege that in certain front-end collisions, the wires relaying the signal from the sensors to the airbag are being severed by the impact before they can trigger deployment of the airbag. As is evidenced in the above-mentioned Chrysler minivan cases, sometimes it is not as simple as a sensor failing to trigger airbag deployment. All potential causes for non-deployment should be fully investigated

The picture below shows a vehicle with serious front end damage. However, the airbag never deployed. An accident like the one below should be investigated to determine if the vehicle was defective.

Automotive Defect: Airbag Failure to Deploy

from → Airbag, Lawsuit

No Comments

(Required)
(Required, will not be published)