BIRMINGHAM AIRBAG INJURY LAWYERS

Airbags are designed to deploy in milliseconds with tremendous force. When everything works correctly, they reduce the risk of fatal injury. But when an airbag malfunctions or is defectively designed, that same force can cause devastating harm.

Defective airbags have caused facial fractures, eye injuries, burns, hearing loss, and permanent scarring. Many victims face extensive medical treatment and long recovery periods, often without realizing at first that the airbag itself played a role.

Alabama law allows injured drivers and passengers to pursue compensation when an airbag’s design defect, manufacturing flaw, or failure to warn causes injury. These claims often involve large manufacturers and suppliers and require detailed investigation and expert analysis.

Airbag injuries can occur even during relatively minor crashes, especially when a defect is involved. Common causes include:

• Airbags deploying with excessive force
• Deployment at the wrong time or without a crash
• Failure to deploy during a serious collision
• Defective inflators that rupture or explode
• Improper placement or sizing of the airbag
• Lack of adequate warnings or instructions

In many cases, injuries occur not just from the crash itself, but from how the airbag behaved during the impact.

Because airbags deploy so rapidly and forcefully, injuries can affect multiple parts of the body, including:

• Hand, wrist, and finger fractures or sprains
• Eye injuries and vision damage
• Burns, lacerations, and abrasions to the face, neck, chest, and arms
• Facial fractures or dental injuries
• Chest trauma and bruising
• Hearing damage or tinnitus

When an airbag malfunctions or worsens injuries, the manufacturer or supplier may be held responsible through a product liability claim.

Yes. If an airbag failed to deploy during a collision where deployment was expected, and that failure contributed to your injuries, you may have grounds for a claim.

These cases often involve analysis of crash data, vehicle sensors, and design specifications to determine whether the airbag system malfunctioned or was defectively designed.

Determining whether an airbag defect caused or worsened your injuries requires investigation. Warning signs may include injuries inconsistent with the crash severity, unexplained burns or shrapnel wounds, or deployment failures.

Morgan & Morgan works with engineers, accident reconstruction experts, and medical professionals to evaluate whether an airbag defect played a role.

The Takata airbag recall impacted millions of vehicles across numerous automakers, including Honda, Toyota, Ford, BMW, Nissan, and others.

Takata airbags were found to contain inflators that could rupture and send metal fragments into the vehicle cabin, causing severe or fatal injuries.

Liability depends on the defect involved. Responsible parties may include:

• The airbag manufacturer
• The vehicle manufacturer
• Parts suppliers
• Distributors or retailers

In many cases, multiple companies may share responsibility under Alabama product liability law.

Airbag injuries can lead to sudden, serious harm that affects nearly every aspect of daily life. When a defective or malfunctioning airbag causes injury, compensation may be available to address both immediate losses and long-term consequences. Depending on the facts of the case, recoverable damages may include:

• Medical expenses, including emergency care, hospital stays, surgery, medication, rehabilitation, and follow-up treatment
• Future medical care, such as ongoing therapy, reconstructive procedures, or specialist care related to the injury
• Lost wages, if injuries prevent you from working during recovery
• Reduced earning capacity, when injuries impact your ability to return to the same job or career
• Pain and suffering, reflecting the physical pain caused by the injury
• Emotional distress, including anxiety, trauma, or loss of enjoyment of life, following the incident
• Scarring or disfigurement, particularly common in airbag-related facial, neck, or upper-body injuries
• Out-of-pocket expenses, such as transportation to medical appointments or necessary accommodations during recovery

In severe cases, airbag injuries can result in permanent limitations that require long-term care or lifestyle adjustments. A thorough evaluation of both current and future impacts is critical to understanding the full scope of potential compensation.

Airbag injury claims are subject to strict deadlines under Alabama law. Waiting too long can bar your claim entirely.

Early action also helps preserve key evidence, including vehicle data, recall information, and expert findings that may be lost over time.

In some situations, class actions or multidistrict litigation may be available. However, individual injury claims are often handled separately, especially when a person suffered physical harm.

An attorney can help determine whether an individual lawsuit or participation in coordinated litigation is more appropriate.

Morgan & Morgan prepares airbag cases thoroughly from the start. Investigation may involve:

• Reviewing recall and defect history
• Analyzing vehicle crash data and airbag modules
• Working with automotive engineers and safety experts
• Examining medical records and injury patterns
• Identifying all potentially liable manufacturers

This approach allows cases to be positioned for resolution or litigation if necessary.

If possible, preserve:

• The vehicle and deployed airbag
• Photos of injuries and vehicle damage
• Medical records and diagnoses
• Police crash reports
• Recall notices or repair records

Avoid repairing or disposing of the vehicle before speaking with an attorney, as critical evidence may be lost.

Airbag defect cases are complex and often involve powerful corporations. Morgan & Morgan has the resources, experience, and national reach to take on manufacturers and suppliers when safety devices fail.

If you were injured by a defective airbag in Birmingham, a free case evaluation can help you understand your options and next steps.