When Airbags Deploy: What’s Normal and What’s Not?

Tens of millions of airbags have been recalled due to dangerous and defective deployments. Here’s a quick comparison of what happens during a normal airbag deployment versus the deployment from a defective airbag, like those manufactured by Takata. 

Normal Airbag Deployment

• Sound: A loud "pop" or "bang," like a balloon bursting or a firecracker. It’s startling but expected.
• Feel: The airbag inflates in milliseconds, cushioning your body to reduce impact. The sensation is firm yet yielding—like hitting a padded surface.
• Look After the Accident: The airbag remains intact, with some visible powder residue on the surface of the airbag cushion. The interior shows minimal damage.
• Expected Injuries: Minor abrasions, bruises, or burns from the airbag. These are usually superficial and far less severe than crash-related injuries.

Takata Airbag Deployment

• Sound: A violent explosion, much louder than normal. It can sound like a gunshot or bomb.
• Feel: Metal shrapnel from the inflator may eject, causing stabbing or slicing injuries to the vehicle occupants. Victims often feel sharp, sudden pain beyond the impact force.
• Look After the Accident: The airbag may inflate unevenly or tear. Metal fragments can pierce the fabric or lodge in the vehicle's interior, leaving visible and dangerous debris.
• Expected Injuries: Severe lacerations, severe burns, hearing loss, puncture wounds, and even fatal injuries from shrapnel, alongside the usual blunt-force trauma from the crash.

Normal airbags are a crucial safety feature, while defective ones, like Takata airbags, have proven to be a lethal hazard. 

If you believe your injuries were due to a defective airbag, our case staff is here to listen to your story.