If you are involved in a car accident, you may hope that your airbag will save you from any serious injuries. However, the unfortunate truth is that sometimes airbags are defective and do not help in the event of a crash. Follow along to find out who is considered responsible for an injury caused by a defective airbag and how one of the proficient Howard County product liability attorneys at Lloyd J. Eisenberg & Associates can help you in holding this at-fault party accountable.
What happens if an airbag is defective?
Unfortunately, a defective airbag can be the difference between life and death. An airbag can become defective if the sensors that detect collision malfunction. And so, the following are examples of what may happen if an airbag is defective:
- An airbag does not deploy in the event of an accident, leading to serious, if not fatal, injuries for the driver and passengers.
- An airbag deploys at the wrong time, leading to serious, if not fatal, injuries for the driver and passengers.
- An airbag deploys without a collision and releases penetrative metals and plastics, leading to serious, if not fatal, injuries for the driver and passengers.
- An airbag deploys without a collision, leading to a driver losing control of the vehicle.
Who is responsible for a defective airbag injury?
Manufacturers and/or federal agencies are responsible for determining whether an airbag is defective. And if they do, they must issue recalls to consumers to warn them about its dangers. However, if manufacturers and/or federal agencies only learn about the defect after your accident occurs, then they may be liable for your injuries and damages.
Or, say that an airbag is designed and manufactured as intended, but there are no warnings regarding its potential dangers present in the automobile. If this is your case, then the designer and/or manufacturer may still be held responsible.
On the other hand, say that a manufacturer and/or federal agency issues a recall to distributors to warn them about selling automobiles with this defect. If a distributor negligently ignores this recall and sells you the automobile anyway, and you receive injuries and damages as a result, then they may be held liable.
What is the deadline for filing a defective airbag injury claim?
When it comes to product liability claims, such as that for your defective airbag injury, the state of Maryland has a deadline for filing. Otherwise known as the statute of limitations, this deadline is generally known to be three years from the date of your accident.
Failure to file your claim by this deadline will permanently bar you from the opportunity to sue. And so, before it is too late, you must seek the services of a talented Howard County personal injury attorney.
