If you have a newer car, you likely count on your airbag deploying if you are involved in a car accident. However, there are some situations in which the airbag might not employ. When you consider that airbags save hundreds of lives every year, it is important to feel confident that yours can protect you in the event of an accident.
If you have suffered a serious injury that may have been prevented if your airbag had worked correctly, it is worth contacting Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 to find out what your legal options are. In the meantime, learn about four reasons your airbag may not have worked.
- The Crash May Not Have Been Serious Airbags are designed to go off in moderate to serious car accidents. In the event of a minor accident, a seatbelt may be all that is needed to protect your head and body. However, serious injuries can still be suffered in “minor” car accidents – especially when the airbag does not deploy.
- There May Have Been a Child in the Vehicle In more advanced front airbag systems, they will deactivate the passenger airbag in the event the vehicle believes there is a small passenger, a child, a child in a child restraint system, or no occupant. In this even, the airbag does not deploy because it is unsafe for it to do so with passengers who are small in stature.
- Someone Could Have Been Positioned Too Close to the Side Airbag If the system determines that the right front passenger is too close to the side airbag, it may not go off. Why? Because if it is too close, not only will it not be effective but it could end up causing more serious injuries. Side airbags may not go off with passengers of small stature too, just like front airbags.
- There May Not Be an Airbag If you have an older, used vehicle, it could be that there is no airbag because it was already used in a past crash. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration suggests that airbags be replaced when they are deployed. If there is an accident and the airbag does not deploy, that airbag should be replaced too as it may be faulty.
Contact a Personal Injury Attorney After a Car Accident
If you or your loved one is injured in a car accident, you should contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. You can reach Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation. We will take a look at your case to determine the best way to protect your legal rights.
