Orange County Defective Airbag Lawyer
Airbags have saved tens of thousands of lives. But defective airbags have contributed to unnecessary injuries and an estimated 300 tragic deaths. When a defective airbag causes harm, victims are often uncertain where to turn.
Nordean Law specializes in personal injury due to defective airbags. When products fail to work as intended and hurt people, the manufacturer, distributor, or seller may bear liability. If you believe a defective airbag injured you, call our car accident lawyer in Orange County.
How Can Airbags Be Defective?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states airbags can cause serious injuries, especially to young children. Regulators have developed warning labels and manufacturing and installation requirements to minimize the risk of injury. For instance, parents are warned not to place children under 12 in the front seat.
However, the recommended precautions could be more helpful with defective airbags. For example, even when used properly, airbag maker Takata was forced to recall millions of airbags because of their dangers. Airbags can be defective in many ways.
Types of Defective Airbags
Airbags can be defective in several ways that pose the risk of serious injuries.
Oversized Airbags
When engineers design airbags, they must consider the size carefully. Too small, and the airbag offers insufficient protection. Too large, and the airbag can become dangerous. Oversized airbags cause head, brain, and eye injuries.
Untethered Airbags
Airbag designers need to include a tether to minimize movement. When no tether is included, or it fails, injuries result.
Airbag Deployment Failure
Airbags should deploy in a crash when the vehicle speed exceeds 25 mph. However, we have seen instances where airbags failed to deploy despite the impact far greater than 25 mph. The outcome is often serious injury or death.
Erroneous Airbag Deployment
On the other hand, airbags can deploy erroneously, such as after a parking lot collision at 8 mph. Erroneous deployment can leave victims with eye, face, and brain injuries.
Under-Inflated Airbag Deployment
Some drivers and riders suffer injuries because of under-inflated airbag deployment. When this occurs, the person receives inadequate protection, reducing or eliminating the airbag’s effectiveness.
Front-Mounted Airbag Deployment
Airbags must be designed to inflate upwards toward the windshield instead of directly at the passenger. If not installed or designed accordingly, the person takes a 200 mph hit directly to the face, resulting in injury.
Materials Defects
The best-designed airbag may fail if defective materials are used in its construction. For example, if a sensor fails, an airbag may fail to deploy in a collision.
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Types of Defective Airbag Injuries
The type and severity of defective airbag injuries depend on the impact of the collision and the type of airbag failure experienced. For example, an airbag with too much velocity may cause vision impairment, while a failure to deploy in a high-speed crash may result in broken bones, paralysis, or death.
The range of injuries is broad, including the following:
- Chemical burns
- Hearing loss
- Eye injuries
- Vision impairment
- Abrasions
- Bruising
- Broken bones
- Lacerations
- Airbag dermatitis
- Internal organ injury
- Whiplash
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord damage
- Paralysis
- Loss of limb
- Death
Who is Liable for Defective Airbag Injuries?
Defective airbag cases often involve multiple defendants. Who is liable in each case depends on the reasons for the failure of the airbag. For instance, the manufacturer may be responsible for a design flaw, while a car dealer may be responsible for selling a vehicle without a functioning airbag.
In California, possible defective airbag claims can be filed against the following entities:
- The airbag manufacturer
- The vehicle manufacturer
- Distributors
- Sellers
- Mechanics
- Other related entities
What Type of Compensation Am I Entitled to in a Defective Airbag Case?
California personal injury law entitles defective airbag victims to economical and non-economic damages. Economic damages compensate for the financial costs of the injury, such as medical bills and lost income. In addition, non-economic damages compensate for the impacts on a person’s non-financial life, including pain, suffering, and emotional distress.
Economic damages include the following:
- Medical bills
- Surgery
- Medications
- Rehabilitative services
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Lost wages
- Lost salary
- Lost business income
- Lost fringe benefits
Non-economic damages include the following:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment
- Loss of consortium
Punitive damages rarely become a factor in defective airbag cases. However, if a defendant engaged in egregious conduct, such as intentionally selling vehicles with the airbags removed, the court could award punitive damages.
Recent Results
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Contact Nordean Law, Top Rated Personal Injury Lawyers for Defective Airbag Cases
Airbags should protect vehicle occupants and not cause harm because of their deployment. For example, if a defective airbag injures you, you have the right to the compensation you deserve.
Nordean Law investigates defective airbag claims and builds strong cases against those responsible, including manufacturers, distributors, and sellers.
To win a claim, you must have evidence proving the airbag was defective because of negligence by the defendant(s). Nordean Law gathers the evidence needed to prove your claim and win the settlement you deserve. Also When we win our client’s cases we pay them.
Contact Nodean Law for a free defective airbag consultation.
"We never lose sight of the pain and suffering of your recovery, not to mention emotional trauma that lasts for years."