I Was In An Accident, Why Didn’t My Air Bags Deploy?
Accident victims frequently ask why the air bags in their vehicle did not deploy when they were in an accident. However, before jumping to the conclusion that something malfunctioned in your vehicle, it is important to understand the facts about air bag deployment.
Air bags are not designed to deploy in every crash. Vehicles are required to have air bags for front seat passengers, and many are now equipped with both frontal and side airbags. Some vehicles even have air bags in the seat or roof.
But, the actual activation and deployment of the air bag depends on the unique circumstances of each crash, including but not limited to:
– Type of vehicle
– Air bag design strategy of the vehicle
– Speed of vehicles involved in the crash
– Location of crash impact on the vehicle
– Location of crash sensors on the vehicle
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Facts
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), frontal air bags are generally designed to deploy when the crash is “moderate to severe” and “frontal or near-frontal”. When a moderate to severe crash occurs, the air bag system’s electronic control unit signals to an inflator within the air bag module. A reaction then starts which inflates the air bag in less than 1/20th of a second.
So, if you are rear-ended while stopped at a stop light, your frontal air bags typically will not deploy. The crash conditions may be only mild to moderate, and typical vehicle design is such that a seat belt worn correctly is made to provide enough protection from a head or chest injury.
But, if a rear-end impact forces you into the vehicle in front of you at a sufficient speed, your air bags may deploy on that second impact. A moderate to severe crash where there is a frontal impact, is defined as a crash that is equivalent to hitting a solid, fixed barrier at 8 to 14 mph or higher.
When To Speak To An Attorney
If you think you were involved in a moderate to severe accident where your air bags did not deploy, and you suffered injuries, you should speak with an attorney. There may have been a defect with the air bag including defective sensors, defective electrical components, defective modules, or wiring. But, consider all the circumstances.
Other possible, non-defect reasons why an air bag does not deploy in an auto accident include:
– Air bag systems automatically shut off when the passenger seat is empty or occupied by a small child or passenger
– Air bags may not have been replaced after a previous accident. Air bags should not be reused after deployment
The federal government has recently expanded an investigation into malfunctioning air bags. These are air bags in a large number of vehicles that could fail to inflate when needed in a crash. This investigation includes numerous popular and well-known vehicle brands. More information on this investigation can be found in this article from NPR.
If you think your air bag needs to be replaced or want to check if a recall on your air bags was issued, there is a great resource and easy way to do so by visiting this link. You can easily type in your Vehicle Identification Number and find out if your vehicle needs to be repaired due to a recall.
If you have any questions, you are always welcome to give us a call at 407-478-4878.
COHEN LAW GROUP
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