The Average Settlement for Airbags Not Deploying

In the event of a crash, they’re designed to deploy within milliseconds to cushion the impact and protect your head, chest, and upper body from severe trauma. However, when airbags fail to deploy, the consequences can be catastrophic. Victims are left unprotected at the exact moment they need it most, leading to devastating injuries such as traumatic brain damage, internal bleeding, paralysis, or, in the worst cases, death. It’s not just a mechanical failure; it’s a betrayal of trust in your car’s most important safety system.

The average settlement for airbags not deploying for these types of accidents typically falls between $50,000 and $250,000 or more, depending on the severity of your injuries and the circumstances surrounding the crash. High-impact cases involving permanent disability or manufacturer negligence have resulted in even larger payouts, sometimes reaching well into the millions.

At Hillguard Injury Lawyers, we specialize in helping personal injury victims hold car and airbag manufacturers accountable. If your airbags didn’t deploy and you were injured as a result, you don’t have to face the aftermath alone. Our experienced car accident lawyers are ready to review your case, investigate the cause, and help you pursue every dollar you deserve. Explore our full practice areas or contact us today to get started with a free consultation.

This post will cover why airbags sometimes fail to deploy, how they function, and what injuries can happen when they don’t work properly. We’ll also explain what an average settlement looks like, what factors affect the amount you may receive, who can be held liable, and the steps you should take after a crash.

Why Do Airbags Sometimes Fail to Deploy?

Airbags are designed to be your last line of defense in a crash. When they don’t deploy, the results can be devastating for vehicle occupants, and understandably, people want to know why this happens. The truth is, a malfunctioning airbag isn’t as rare as you might think.

There are several reasons why airbags fail. Sometimes, it’s a technical issue – defective sensors, poor wiring, or a glitch in the system that misjudges the force or direction of the impact. In other cases, manufacturing defects are to blame. A classic example is the Takata airbag recall, which affected millions of cars worldwide due to inflators that either failed to deploy or exploded with dangerous force.

Additionally, environmental and situational factors also influence the situation. Low-speed impacts, unusual angles, or prior undeclared damage to the airbag system can all cause problems. The main point is that if you’ve been injured by faulty airbags, you might have a product liability claim and a strong case to seek compensation.

What Injuries Can Result from Airbags Not Deploying?

When airbags don’t do what they’re supposed to, injuries sustained in the crash are often far more severe. Instead of cushioning the blow, your body absorbs all the energy from the impact. That can mean everything from facial injuries and neck injuries to traumatic brain injuries and broken bones. Some of the most common injuries include broken facial bones, deep lacerations, crushed ribs, and internal bleeding. There were cases where a malfunctioning airbag led to spine injuries so severe that the victims required long-term physical therapy and could never return to work.

Even relatively “mild” injuries like a concussion or whiplash can become chronic without the proper protection. Moreover, let’s not forget the passenger seat – when the airbag fails there, children and smaller adults are especially vulnerable to catastrophic harm.

These physical wounds often come with emotional trauma, too. PTSD, anxiety while driving, and long-term psychological distress are all real, and they matter when you’re seeking fair compensation for what you’ve been through.

What Is the Average Settlement for Airbags Not Deploying?

If your airbag didn’t deploy and you were seriously injured, you may be wondering what kind of financial compensation is possible. While no two cases are exactly alike, settlement agreements for airbag non-deployment often range from $50,000 to $250,000+, depending on the specific circumstances and how badly you were hurt.

Typically, a valid airbag deployment failure lawsuit case involves a moderate to severe crash where the airbags should have deployed but didn’t, and as a result, you suffered serious injuries that required medical treatment and disrupted your life. If the crash caused injuries that could have been prevented or minimized by a functioning airbag, you likely have a strong case.

There’s no set payout. Some cases, especially those involving product liability claims against car manufacturers, have resulted in larger settlements, sometimes exceeding a million dollars, particularly when permanent disability or death occurred.

What Factors Affect the Settlement Amount When Airbags Don’t Deploy?

Severity of Injuries

The seriousness of your injuries is arguably the most important factor in determining a fair settlement. A traumatic brain injury, spine injury, or internal injury will generally lead to a much larger payout than, say, a fractured wrist or minor bruising. This is because severe injuries often come with a longer recovery time, greater pain, and lifelong consequences.

Certain injuries, like eye injuries, can require extensive surgeries and ongoing therapy. Furthermore, even a partial loss of vision can drastically reduce your quality of life and earning capacity, making your case far more valuable. Whether it’s head trauma from hitting the steering wheel or a punctured lung from a defective seatbelt system, the type and scope of the injury will weigh heavily in your final settlement agreement.

Additionally, courts and insurance adjusters look at whether your injuries are short-term or long-term. If you’ll require ongoing medical treatment or physical therapy for years to come, your car accident claim could be worth significantly more.

Medical Expenses

Medical costs are often the most visible (and stressful) aftermath of a crash. From the moment you arrive at the emergency room, the medical bills start piling up – ambulance transport, hospital stays, surgeries, prescription medications, rehabilitation, and follow-up care.

If your malfunctioning airbag led to injuries that required surgery, or if you’re facing a future filled with therapy or specialist visits, those anticipated costs must also be factored in. A larger settlement often reflects not just the care you’ve received, but the care you’ll continue to need.

Additionally, let’s not forget: many injury victims also face hidden expenses like travel to appointments, home care services, or assistive devices. All of these contribute to your final financial compensation.

Loss of Income or Earning Capacity

Crashes involving faulty airbags can sideline you from work for weeks or end your career entirely. If you’ve missed time on the job due to your injuries, you may be eligible for lost wages. Furthermore, if your injuries are severe enough to prevent you from returning to your previous job or earning the same income as before, then loss of earning capacity becomes part of your claim.

This is especially critical in cases where the victim worked in a physically demanding role – construction, healthcare, or even law enforcement. We’ve seen cases where head and neck injuries or spine injuries left clients unable to perform basic job functions. In those scenarios, a good legal team will fight for fair compensation not only for wages already lost but also for the long-term impact on your career and livelihood.

Pain and Suffering

It’s hard to put a price on pain, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be compensated. After a crash involving a malfunctioning airbag, victims often experience intense emotional distress, anxiety, sleep issues, and fear of driving again. These mental and emotional effects are just as real as physical injuries.

If your life has been turned upside down, your daily routines disrupted, or your relationships strained by the aftermath of the accident, then you deserve to be compensated for that suffering. In some cases, the pain is ongoing, chronic, and intrusive, which can justify a larger settlement. Insurance companies may try to downplay this element of your claim, but with the right law firm on your side, you’ll have a much stronger chance of being taken seriously.

Vehicle Make and Model

The make and model of your car play a surprising role in your potential settlement, especially if there’s a history of airbag issues. Some vehicles have known problems with their safety systems, and if your car was affected by a recall (such as the infamous Takata airbag recall), this could strengthen your case.

In these situations, car manufacturers may already be under pressure from regulatory agencies or previous lawsuits. That makes it easier to prove manufacturer liability, particularly if they failed to warn customers or ignored early signs of product failure. When a vehicle has a history of producing faulty airbags, your legal team can pursue product liability claims, holding the company responsible for its failure to protect you.

Types of Compensation for Airbags Not Deploying

Victims of malfunctioning airbag accidents may be entitled to a wide range of damages, both economic and non-economic. Your understanding of these categories can help you estimate what a fair settlement might look like. You also need to know the differences between compensatory and punitive damages. Here are some common compensatory damages or expenses you can claim after a car accident:

• Medical expenses: All hospital bills, emergency room visits, surgeries, physical therapy, and future medical needs.
• Lost wages: Time missed from work because of the accident or recovery.
• Loss of earning capacity: If you can’t return to your old job or earn what you used to.
• Pain and suffering: Non-economic damages including emotional distress, chronic pain, anxiety, and PTSD from the accident.
• Property damage: The cost to repair or replace your car.
• Out-of-pocket costs: Things like transportation to appointments, hiring in-home care, or purchasing medical equipment.

In some cases, punitive damages may apply. These are meant to punish the liable party, usually the manufacturer, for gross negligence, such as ignoring known defects or failing to issue timely recalls. Your legal team will calculate these damages using your medical records, expert evaluations, and employment history to build a case for the highest possible compensation.

Who May Be Liable When Airbags Fail to Deploy?

Most often, the vehicle manufacturer or airbag manufacturer is held liable, especially if the failure was due to a known defect or design flaw. But liability doesn’t stop there. If your car had recent repairs or replacements and the technician made a mistake, the mechanic or service shop could be at fault. And if the parts used were faulty, the third-party parts supplier might also share responsibility.

Additionally, a thorough investigation is needed to identify the liable party, and that’s where an experienced law firm makes all the difference to secure your personal injury claim and recover compensation.

How to Prove Fault in Airbag Injury Cases

Proving that your airbag should have deployed and that its failure caused your injuries sustained isn’t easy. But it’s doable with the right strategy.

Start by preserving the car. A vehicle inspection by an expert can determine whether the airbag system malfunctioned. A review of the crash report, your medical records, and the vehicle’s service history helps piece the story together.

Sometimes, expert witnesses are needed to explain the technical aspects of what failed and why. If your vehicle was subject to a manufacturer’s recall, that history could serve as powerful evidence of negligence. Lastly, a qualified personal injury attorney knows exactly what kind of evidence matters—and how to use it to build a winning case.

What Should You Do if Your Airbag Doesn’t Deploy in a Crash?

If you’ve been in a crash and your airbag didn’t deploy, don’t wait. Your actions in the first few days can have a huge impact on your personal injury claim. First, seek immediate medical attention. Even if you feel okay, hidden injuries like internal bleeding or head trauma might not be obvious right away.

Next, file a police report. This official documentation is important for any future claim or lawsuit. Document the damaged airbag area and your injuries. These will help establish what happened and support your story.

Then notify your insurance company, but avoid giving detailed statements about the airbag malfunction until you’ve spoken to a lawyer. Finally, contact a personal injury attorney. They’ll guide you through the legal process, from investigation to filing your claim, and give you the best shot at winning your case.

At Hillguard Injury Lawyers, we help clients evaluate every detail that impacts their case, from the severity of the injuries to the long-term cost of care.

Need a Car Accident Lawyer to Maximize Your Settlement?

If your airbags fail to deploy during a crash, you are likely facing serious injuries, unexpected medical bills, and many unanswered questions. The average settlement amount depends on a factors and differs according to the peculiarity of each case. However, you should expect to receive amounts ranging from $50,0000 to $250,000 depending on your unique situation. Overall, understanding your rights is important. It enables you to take action, seek fair compensation, and hold the responsible parties accountable for your injuries and losses.

At Hillguard Injury Lawyers, we combine legal experience, technical knowledge, and real compassion to fight for people just like you. We understand the complexity of defective safety system claims and know how to hold manufacturers and negligent parties accountable. If you’re ready to take action and maximize your settlement, we’re here to help every step of the way – from the initial investigation to the final payout. Reach out to us or contact us today for a free case evaluation, and let’s get you the compensation you deserve.

FAQs

When airbags fail to deploy in a crash, the resulting injuries can be severe, and so can the legal consequences. This section explores some of the most commonly asked questions about the average settlement for airbags not deploying.

How Much Can You Sue for If Your Airbags Don’t Deploy?

The amount you can sue for after an airbag fails to deploy depends heavily on the resulting injuries, medical costs, and how the incident has impacted your life. Settlements often range from $50,000 to $250,000 or more, especially if you suffered serious harm like broken bones, head trauma, or permanent disability. In cases where a negligent driver was also involved, or where there’s evidence of a defective product, the total compensation can be significantly higher.

Can You Negotiate a Higher Settlement If Your Airbags Fail to Deploy?

Yes, and you absolutely should. Insurance companies rarely offer their best number upfront, especially in cases involving malfunctioning airbags. Working with a skilled personal injury lawyer allows you to push back with confidence. Your attorney can gather evidence, consult with experts, and build a strong case to justify a higher settlement – one that accounts for pain, suffering, lost wages, medical treatment, and the overall impact on your quality of life.

Are There Any Successful Lawsuits for Airbags Failing to Deploy?

Yes, many. There have been numerous successful lawsuits against car manufacturers and airbag producers for failing to protect vehicle occupants in a crash. One of the most infamous examples involves the Takata airbag recall, which led to billions in liability. Victims in those cases suffered everything from internal injuries to wrongful death, and many received significant compensation.

How Do Airbags Work to Protect Passengers in a Car?

Airbags are designed to deploy within milliseconds during moderate to severe collisions. Sensors detect the sudden deceleration and send a signal to inflate the airbag, which acts as a cushion to prevent your body, especially your head and chest, from striking the steering wheel, dashboard, or other hard surfaces. When this system works properly, it can significantly reduce the severity of other injuries like concussions, spinal damage, or facial fractures.

What Are the Common Injuries Caused by Airbags Not Deploying During a Car Accident?

When airbags fail to deploy, vehicle occupants are left unprotected. This often leads to serious injuries such as broken bones, head and neck trauma, internal bleeding, and even spinal cord damage. Without the cushioning effect of an airbag, victims may also suffer facial injuries, lacerations, or be ejected from the seat entirely.

What Factors Determine the Compensation for Injuries Caused by Airbags Not Deploying?

Your compensation is based on several critical factors: the severity of your injuries, the cost of your medical treatment, your lost wages, your ability to return to work, and the emotional distress you’ve endured. Additionally, if your vehicle had a known defect or was part of a recall, that could strengthen your claim. Having strong legal representation to investigate the airbag system, gather evidence, and identify all liable parties is essential for securing fair compensation.

How Can Victims of Accidents Involving Non-deploying Airbags Seek Compensation?

Start by documenting everything – gather evidence at the scene, get medical attention, and don’t dispose of your vehicle. Next, speak to a qualified personal injury lawyer who can assess your case and guide you through your legal options.

How Long Does It Take to Receive a Settlement for Non-Deployed Airbags?

While some cases settle quickly, others – especially those involving defective products or serious injury – can take several months to over a year. The timeline for a personal injury claim depends on how long it takes to collect medical records, inspect the vehicle, negotiate with insurers, and (if necessary) go to court.