When an airbag deploys properly, it can save your life. But when it fails, deploys with too much force, or goes off when it should not, the results can be devastating and life-altering. Victims are often left with serious, long-term injuries that affect every aspect of their daily lives.
If this happened to you or someone in your family, the confusion and pain you are feeling right now make complete sense. You trusted that your vehicle’s safety system would protect you, and it did the opposite.
Airbag injury claims involve complex product liability law, technical evidence, and corporate defendants with deep pockets and aggressive legal teams. At The Law Office of Kevin Lemieux, APC, we know how to build these cases and pursue the compensation you deserve. Call our firm at (619) 488-6767 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with an airbag injury lawyer in San Diego, CA.
What Law Applies to Defective Airbags?
Defective airbag claims in California fall under the state’s product liability framework, which allows injured consumers to pursue compensation without proving the manufacturer was negligent. Under California Civil Code Section 1714, every person is responsible for injuries caused by their lack of ordinary care or skill in the management of their property.
Product liability law in California goes even further by imposing strict liability on manufacturers, distributors, and retailers who place defective products into the stream of commerce. The legal theories available in these cases include:
- Strict liability for manufacturing defects
- Strict liability for design defects
- Failure to warn or provide adequate instructions
- Breach of express or implied warranty
- Negligence in design, manufacturing, or testing
What Causes Airbag Failure?
Airbag systems are complex, and failures can stem from problems at any point in the design, manufacturing, or installation process. When something goes wrong, the consequences are often severe and immediate:
- Defective inflator components that rupture or explode
- Faulty crash sensors that fail to detect an impact
- Software errors in the deployment system
- Manufacturing contamination of the propellant
- Improper installation during vehicle assembly or repair
- Inadequate testing before the product reaches consumers
- Design flaws that cause excessive deployment force
Who Can Be Held Liable for Airbag Injuries?
Multiple parties may share responsibility for a defective airbag. California’s strict liability doctrine allows injured consumers to pursue claims against any entity in the product’s chain of distribution:
- The airbag manufacturer
- The vehicle manufacturer
- Component suppliers and parts makers
- Distributors and wholesalers
- Dealerships that sold the vehicle
- Repair shops that improperly installed or serviced the airbag system
Recoverable Damages for Defective Airbag Injuries in San Diego
You can seek compensation for the full range of harm you have suffered after a car accident involving a defective airbag. The damages available depend on the severity of your injuries and how they have affected your daily life:
- Medical bills and future treatment costs
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Punitive damages in cases involving willful misconduct
Why Choose The Law Office of Kevin Lemieux, APC?
For more than 20 years, Kevin Lemieux and his trial attorneys have served clients throughout San Diego County, earning a reputation for dedicated advocacy and strong results. We take a client-first approach that places your circumstances, concerns, and goals at the center of every decision we make. We help personal injury clients with airbag injury claims by:
- Investigating the cause of the airbag malfunction
- Identifying all potentially liable parties in the supply chain
- Working with engineering and medical experts to build your case
- Handling communication with insurance companies and corporate defense counsel
- Pursuing full compensation through negotiation or trial
FAQ: Answers for Airbag Injury Victims
How Long Do I Have to File a Product Liability Lawsuit in California?
California generally allows you two years from the date of your injury to file a product liability lawsuit. In some airbag injury cases, the discovery rule may apply, which means the clock starts when you knew or reasonably should have known the airbag was defective rather than the date of the accident itself. Missing the deadline can permanently bar you from recovering compensation, so acting promptly is important.
What Injuries Are Caused by Faulty Airbags?
Airbag malfunctions can produce a wide range of injuries, from minor burns to life-threatening trauma. The type and severity of injury often depend on the nature of the defect and the force of deployment:
- Facial and chest burns from chemical propellants
- Broken bones in the face, hands, and wrists
- Eye injuries, including corneal abrasions and vision loss
- Traumatic brain injuries from excessive deployment force
- Neck and spinal cord injuries
- Hearing loss from the deployment blast
- Lacerations from shrapnel when the inflator housings rupture
Consult an Airbag Injury Lawyer in San Diego, CA
Have you or a loved one been injured by a defective airbag and are unsure where to turn for answers? The evidence you need to prove your claim can deteriorate over time, and manufacturers are under no obligation to preserve records unless legal action has been initiated.
Call The Law Office of Kevin Lemieux, APC at (619) 488-6767, or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with an airbag injury lawyer in San Diego, CA who will examine the facts of your case, identify the parties at fault, and pursue the compensation you need to move forward with your recovery.
When an airbag deploys properly, it can save your life. But when it fails, deploys with too much force, or goes off when it should not, the results can be devastating and life-altering. Victims are often left with serious, long-term injuries that affect every aspect of their daily lives.
