Man in neckbrace after suffering an injury caused by a defective airbag

Pittsburgh Attorneys For Injuries Caused By
Defective Airbags

Hurt by a defective airbag? Our team can help.
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When Bad Products Hurt Good People - Your Case is Our Cause

Which Attorney Handles Defective Airbag Injury Cases?

Airbags are a crucial and mandatory safety feature found in all cars, trucks, SUVs, and other types of vehicles. At their core, airbags are designed to keep motorists and passengers safe and have been proved to have saved countless lives since all cars and trucks sold in the United States were required to come equipped with them in 1998.

However, due to manufacturer or car dealership defects – airbags can sometimes cause more harm than good.

The personal injury attorneys at Schiffman Firm focus on product liability and in representing victims that have been injured by airbags due to an automobile defect.

With over 100 years of combined trial experience, our team understands the complexity of airbag injury cases and we put in the time and effort it takes to collaborate with the right industry experts for their expert opinions. This approach and our efforts ensure that our clients have the best possible chance of receiving the right compensation for their injury.

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If you or someone you care about was injured by a defective automobile or airbag, contact us today for a free case evaluation. There is no fee for our services unless we help you win your case.

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Late Deployment, Failed Sensors

What Causes Airbag Injuries?

When a car accident or collision occurs, a crash sensor is triggered in the vehicle which instructs the onboard computer to deploy the airbags. Unfortunately, most airbag-related injuries occur when this process malfunctions or a defect is present.

The timing of an airbag deployment is crucial and the split-second required can be the determination between saving a passenger’s life or potentially causing additional injury related to the collision. The momentum that an airbag is propelled at is enough to cause serious injuries, including wrongful death.

The attorneys at Schiffman Firm have delivered results to clients and victims of airbag injuries for decades and we have the expertise and knowledge to represent all types of injuries sustained.

If you were hurt by a defective airbag contact our attorneys today for a free review of your case.

Common Causes of Incorrect Airbag Deployment Can Include:

  • The airbag was deployed too late or not at all due to a defective crash sensor
  • Only one or not all airbags were deployed at the time of the collision
  • Airbags were deployed in a low-impact crash when they should not have been
  • The crash sensor failed and deployed the airbags when a collision or crash occurred
Hurt By An Airbag?

Concussions, Eye Injuries, Burns

What Kind of Injuries Can A Defective Airbag Cause?

An airbag will deploy in “the blink of any eye.” In fact, when a crash sensor sends the signal to inflate and deploy the vehicle’s airbag, it does so at speeds near or over 200mph 1. Keep in mind, that most passengers and drivers are less than arm’s length away from their airbags. When you consider that, it’s easy to understand how an airbag, especially one with a flaw, could be extremely dangerous.

One of the largest automobile recalls in United States history was the result of airbag failures and related injuries caused by the Takata airbag 2.

It was determined that the propellant used to inflate the airbag was prone to exploding upon impact and would disperse shards of metal at the driver and passengers – causing a variety of personal injuries. Nearly all carmakers and manufacturers had vehicles with Takata airbag components including Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Ford, GM, Chrysler, Honda, Mazda, and BMW.

While most experts will agree that airbags have saved more lives than they have hurt, that type of force is still capable of causing severe injury or wrongful death if a malfunction or factory defect occurs in the milliseconds it takes for the airbags to deploy.

  1. Airbag Inflation – HowStuffWorks.com
  2. Takata Air Bag Recall: What You Need To Know – NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)

Injuries Suffered From Airbags Can Include:

Brain Injuries

Burns and Skin Irritations

  • Airbag dermatitis which is an irritation of the skin
  • Burn injuries to the chest, upper arms, and/or hands

Fractures and Trauma

  • Spinal cord injuries including strains, fractures, or blunt trauma
  • Breaks and fractures in the skull, face, orbital bones, upper arms, or wrists
  • Rib cage fractures
  • Broken fingers and wrists

Internal Injuries

  • Internal bleeding
  • Injuries to pregnant women including trauma to unborn babies
  • Trauma and injuries to the heart, lungs, liver, and spleen

Loss of Senses

  • Injuries to the eye, retina, and orbital bone
  • Hearing loss or ear trauma
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Safety Issues and Car Product Recall VIN Lookup

How Can I Tell if My Car, Truck, SUV, or Van has a Defective Airbag?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSA) has a useful tool that will allow you to look for safety issues and recalls by simply entering the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) of your vehicle. You can access the lookup tool here.

NHSA Safety Issue and Recall VIN Lookup

What is the Takata airbag recall?

The Takata airbag recall stands as one of the most extensive and impactful automotive safety recalls in history. The issue primarily revolved around the airbag inflators manufactured by Takata Corporation, a Japanese supplier that provided airbags to numerous automakers worldwide.

The problem stemmed from a defect in the design and construction of the airbag inflators, particularly involving the use of ammonium nitrate, a chemical compound used to inflate the airbags upon deployment. Over time, due to various environmental factors like high temperatures and humidity, the ammonium nitrate could degrade, causing the inflator to deploy with excessive force. In some cases, this force led to the metal inflator housing rupturing upon deployment, resulting in the expulsion of shrapnel into the vehicle cabin. These dangerous ruptures caused severe injuries, including fatalities, among vehicle occupants.

The Takata airbag recall affected millions of vehicles across various makes and models, spanning numerous manufacturers globally. Automakers including Honda, Toyota, Ford, General Motors, BMW, Nissan, Subaru, and others were among those impacted. The recall process involved replacing the defective Takata airbag inflators in affected vehicles with updated, safer components to eliminate the risk of ruptures and ensure occupant safety.

Due to the massive scale and severity of the issue, government agencies such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the United States and similar bodies worldwide played a crucial role in overseeing the recall process and ensuring that manufacturers took appropriate actions to address the safety concerns associated with the faulty Takata airbags.

The Takata airbag recall serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vehicle safety and the potential risks associated with component defects. It also highlighted the necessity for swift and comprehensive actions by both automakers and regulatory authorities to ensure the safety of vehicle occupants.

Which cars and automobiles have the recalled Takata airbags?

The Takata airbag recall affected a significant number of vehicles across various makes and models. It’s important to note that the recall varied based on the production year and specific models. Some of the affected car manufacturers and popular models included:

Honda: Several Honda models spanning various years were affected, including the Accord, Civic, CR-V, Element, Fit, Odyssey, Pilot, and Ridgeline.

  • Toyota: Models such as the Corolla, Matrix, Tundra, Sequoia, and various Lexus models were part of the Takata airbag recall.
  • BMW: Certain BMW models, including the 3 Series, 4 Series, X1, X3, X5, and others, were subject to the recall.
  • Ford: Vehicles like the Mustang, Fusion, Edge, and several Ford and Lincoln models were included in the Takata airbag recall.
  • Nissan: Models such as the Sentra, Versa, Pathfinder, and Infinity QX56 were among the recalled vehicles.
  • Subaru: Certain Subaru models, including the Legacy, Outback, Impreza, and WRX/STI, were affected by the Takata airbag recall.
  • General Motors (GM): Some GM vehicles, including certain Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac, and Buick models, were part of the recall.

These are just a few examples, and the Takata airbag recall impacted many other makes and models as well. The recall was extensive and varied depending on the specific manufacturing years and the regions where the vehicles were sold. As a result, it’s crucial for vehicle owners to check with their car manufacturer or use online tools provided by the manufacturer or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to determine whether their particular vehicle was affected by the Takata airbag recall.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Much Is My Airbag Injury Worth?

Each personal injury case is different and all present unique challenges to overcome. If you have been hurt by a defective product, including an airbag – or you suffered in an injury because your airbag did not deploy during a car accident or collision contact our attorneys today for a free evaluation of your case.  There are no fees for our services unless we help you recover money from your case.

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From personal injury to product liability - Schiffman Firm has the legal expertise and experience to take on a wide variety of cases with a proven track record of delivering results for their clients.

Our attorneys are always ready to listen to your case. Contact us today for a free review of your case - you don't pay anything for our legal services unless you win your case.

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Burns and Hazardous Material Injuries

Our attorneys handle lawsuits and legal cases for personal injuries due to a variety of burns including:
Explosion-Related Litigation
Thermal and Fire Burn Injuries
Chemical Burns
Hazardous Material Injuries
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Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord, brain, and concussion injuries are complex legal matters - our team has experience and expertise in working with:
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
Concussions
Pediatric Brain Injries
Spinal Cord Injuries
Medical Malpractice
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Wrongful and Accidental Deaths

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At Schiffman Firm, we know how Pennsylvania’s workers’ compensation system works and — most importantly — how to make this system work for our clients.
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