Car accidents are always dangerous, but airbags are an essential part of keeping drivers and passengers safe should a serious car accident occur. Airbags have a long history helping victims of car accidents walk away from a wreck without serious injury.
Unfortunately, airbags don’t always work as expected, and can even make a crash more dangerous if they malfunction. Pope & Howard, P.C. in Atlnata, GA is a personal injury law firm specializing in helping victims of catastrophic car accidents get just compensation for injuries, lost wages and more.
Continue reading below to learn about ways defective airbags can cause serious injury or death, and how Pope & Howard can help if a defective airbag injures you or a loved one or causes wrongful death.
When you need your airbags, you need them quickly. In an accident, defective airbags may not deploy in time or at all, which can lead to serious injuries like skull fractures or death.
It is also possible for defective airbags to deploy without cause or warning, which may in turn lead to a crash where the now-used airbags would be needed.
In these cases, the problem may be caused by anything from faulty impact sensors and inflators to counterfeit airbags. It typically takes extensive research and testimony to prove that an airbag was faulty in these circumstances, which is where Pope & Howard comes in.
In 2014, it was discovered that the airbag manufacturer Takata had been producing airbags which used a dangerous mix of chemicals in the inflator cartridge without the proper precautions against heat and humidity, sometimes resulting in a deadly explosion when the airbags went to inflate.
While the impacted vehicles have been under recall for years, the defect affected 67 million airbags, and deaths have been linked to faulty Takata airbags as recently as April 2021. Due to the scope of the problem, replacement parts have been difficult to fully roll out, particularly for older models that may have changed hands multiple times over the years.
If you have a question or concern about the airbags in your car, get them checked out immediately.
There are several parties that might be found responsible for injuries resulting from defective airbags. The most common party would be the manufacturer of the airbag, like in the case of the defective Takata airbags.
However, other situations might shift the blame elsewhere.
If you purchased a vehicle with defective airbags from a dealer who should have been responsible for ensuring their functionality before selling the car, they might be found responsible for any resulting injury.
Similarly, if a technician replaces your airbags with defective ones, they may be found liable for injury.
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or killed by a defective airbag, Pope & Howard may be able to help you with a personal injury claim. As you can see, there are many factors that must be taken into consideration when developing a case around defective airbags, and our expert team is here to put in the effort to get you the compensation you deserve for these serious injuries. Call (404) 885-9999 today to schedule a free consultation.