Experienced Lawyers Seek Compensation for Injuries from Airbags in New York Car Accidents
Can you sue for a defective airbag?
In recent years, there has been a disturbing rise in injuries from airbags in New York car accidents. These devices, which are meant to save lives during vehicle collisions, often have defects which render them inoperable or harmful to drivers and passengers. At Goldberg Sager & Associates in Brooklyn, our auto accident attorneys represent victims harmed by defective automobile airbags. If your car airbag directly caused your injury or increased the severity of your condition because it failed to perform, we can help you seek the compensation you deserve.
When should an airbag be deployed
An automobile airbag is a safety device, designed to deploy in a significant collision that puts a driver and/or a front-seat passenger at risk of physical harm. Airbags should activate when the vehicle is struck with enough force to cause injury. Sensors in the vehicle send information to a Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) computer that regulates deployment. Impact sensors measure the direction and intensity of crash to the front, rear and sides of the vehicle. Seat sensors tell the computer whether a seat is occupied and how much that person weighs. This information allows the computer to refrain from deploying for an empty passenger seat and to deploy with less force for a smaller person. Front airbags will deploy in a head-on collision and a rear-end impact. Some vehicles have side-curtain airbags to prevent in a side-impact (T-bone) crash.
What happens when an airbag does not inflate properly?
Problems can cause an airbag to deploy late, deploy with too much force, rupture or fail to inflate. When an airbag does not work as intended, the driver and passengers can suffer severe injuries, including the following:
- Whiplash
- Concussions and other head injuries
- Cuts and bruising, especially on the face
- Chest injuries from impact with the steering wheel
- Internal injuries
Functioning airbags have saved tens of thousands of lives since they were introduced. However, when an airbag fails, a driver or passenger is unnecessarily exposed to extreme danger. Drivers and passengers can also be hurt when an airbag deploys unexpectedly and unnecessarily.
Common causes of airbag malfunction
The top reasons an airbag may not work properly include:
- Sensor malfunction
- Product defect
- Installation issue
- Turned off by driver
- Improperly replaced after an accident
We consult with highly trained mechanical engineers who can determine the precise reason an airbag failed to perform.
Liability of airbag injuries in New York car accidents
When an airbag fails to perform, we need to know why and who was responsible. Possible defendants include:
- Manufacturers of automobiles and/or airbags
- Mechanics who install replacement airbags or adjust sensors
- Previous owners of a vehicle
- Operators of a fleet to which the vehicle belongs
- Rideshare driver or rideshare company
In some cases, the driver of a vehicle where the airbag failed can be liable for injuries to a front-seat passenger.
Compensation for airbag injuries in Brooklyn
When an airbag causes harm or fails to prevent harm, an injured party may be eligible for personal injury compensation. This includes payment for damages such as:
- Present and future medical bills
- Present and future lost income
- Compensation for physical pain and mental suffering
Our Brooklyn car accident attorneys can consult with a range of experts in accident reconstruction, medical sciences and economics to ascertain the full extent of a victim’s losses. Then we fight to recover the maximum amount of compensation possible under the facts of your case.
