Call Us Now
202-463-3030
Schedule a Free Consultation
An airbag is designed to save your life, but when it deploys with excessive force or fails altogether, the results can be devastating. Regan Zambri Long’s award-winning DC car accident lawyers have nearly 200 years of combined experience representing clients injured by defective or improperly deployed airbags.
Our board-certified attorneys handle complex claims involving vehicle defects, sensor failures, and faulty inflators that cause burns, fractures, and hearing loss. We front all case costs and retain top expert witnesses to prove liability against automakers, or parts manufacturers, backed by the resources of a nationally recognized trial firm. With three partners ranked among the Top 100 Super Lawyers in Washington, DC and more than 100 5 star Google reviews, we are trusted for our experience, precision, and proven record of multimillion-dollar recoveries.
If your airbags have deployed in the course of an accident or due to a defect, contact Regan Zambri Long today. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and one of our attorneys will call you back. There’s no fee unless we win your case.
Complete this form and our team will get back to you as soon as possible
As the name implies, airbags are gas bags designed to act as a buffer during a car accident, keeping your body from slamming into the steering wheel, dashboard, and sometimes the sides of the vehicle.
Airbags are designed for safety, but like all technical equipment, sometimes they are discovered to be defective and need to be recalled, such as in the widespread Takata Airbag recall of 2015. In 2018, Toyota also recalled 49,000 Lexus and Prius vehicles due to a wiring issue that could cause airbags to fail during a crash.
Â
Airbags primarily rely on sensors to all-but-instantly analyze the impact severity and determine whether an airbag is needed.
A fraction of a second too slow, and the airbag deployment can cause more harm than good. Though airbags prevent blunt trauma, they can cause other kinds of injuries. Airbag deployment can be the primary source of injuries when an accident is not severe.
Some defects or failings can include failure to deploy, deploying when no accident occurs, or an exploding airbag that sends shrapnel-like canister pieces into the vehicle.
Â
In late 2024, federal regulators confirmed that about 50 million vehicles across the United States are under investigation for potentially defective airbag inflators, following reports of at least one death and multiple injuries. These inflators can rupture with extreme force, sending sharp metal fragments flying through the cabin, turning a protective device into a dangerous projectile.
Due to the high speed at which airbags must deploy, an airbag can add to your injuries during a car accident. Airbags are designed to work in tandem with a car’s seat belts, so airbag deployment when seat belts are not worn correctly or if you are too close to the airbag can lead to injuries, even when the airbag deploys safely.
Â
Although airbags are designed to save lives, research shows they can also be a significant source of injury. A 2024 study found that approximately 43% of airbag deployments result in one or more injuries, most often affecting the upper limbs. The study also noted that the risk of arm or hand injuries was up to four times higher in crashes involving airbag deployment than in those without. These findings highlight that even properly functioning airbags can cause harm under certain conditions, especially when occupants are seated too close or positioned awkwardly at the moment of impact.
Some common airbag injuries include:
When any of these injuries occur, you’ll need a DC car accident lawyer to ensure you get the compensation you deserve.Â
A noisy deploying airbag generates a hefty sound pressure of 160 decibels—higher than the minimum level that can cause permanent hearing loss. So while you are not guaranteed to experience hearing loss after your airbags deploy in a car accident, it’s not outside the realm of possibility. Acoustic trauma is common when an airbag deploys and can cause ear bones to fracture or eardrums to rupture.
Sometimes an accident may cause tinnitus, an annoying ringing in the ears and deafness in the affected ear. When caused by an accident, it’s not uncommon for tinnitus to heal itself, but sometimes it becomes a permanent part of life.
A study presented in 2008 found that 17% of car accident victims in America who experienced airbag deployment suffered some permanent hearing loss. If you are involved in a car accident with deployed airbags, you should have your hearing checked as part of your post-accident medical care and continue to monitor any changes.
After a car accident, it can take time for the worst of your injuries to reveal themselves. Therefore, you must pay close attention to your body and know what to watch for. Internal injuries, head injuries, and spinal injuries can easily be mistaken for whiplash and minor injuries in the immediate aftermath of an accident. It would help if you watched for:
Your body’s adrenaline high after a car accident may leave you feeling like your injuries are minimal, but in the days and weeks that follow, you will likely find aches and pains cropping up. It is vital to get these medically checked out so that you can claim any compensation you are entitled to and prevent your injuries from worsening or becoming long-term.
Compensation for your airbag injuries will often be part of your car accident claim. If you bring a personal injury suit against the at-fault driver, documentation of your injuries will be used to calculate the medical bills and damages you suffered.
In other situations, you may be able to bring a separate suit for a defective airbag. A product liability suit might sue the vehicle manufacturer, the airbag manufacturer, or an inspector, mechanic, or retailer who missed or ignored the faulty airbag.
Frontal airbags saved more than 50,000 people between 1987 and 2017, so even though airbags can cause some additional injuries, they are still invaluable as a safety measure. Drivers and passengers can take extra precautions to minimize the potential for airbag injuries in the event of a car accident.
Most of the time, you can’t control whether an accident happens to you. However, by adopting safe vehicle habits and routines, you can take practical steps to reduce the severity of your injuries if an accident does occur. Your next reasonable step is to ensure you know an experienced injury lawyer in DC who will help you pursue the compensation you are entitled to.
When your injuries are caused by an airbag defect or crash-related failure, you need a law firm with the experience, resources, and results to hold major manufacturers and insurers accountable. At Regan Zambri Long, our Washington, DC car accident lawyers have recovered life-changing compensation for clients across the region, including complex product liability claims against some of the largest automakers in the nation.
Â
We’ve secured dozens of multimillion-dollar car accident and product liability verdicts and settlements, including:
Our partners and attorneys are consistently listed among the Best Lawyers in Washington, DC, with three partners named Lawyer of the Year, including Salvatore Zambri for Product Liability Litigation. All six partners have been recognized on the Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers list, and several serve as past presidents and members of the Board of Governors of the District of Columbia Trial Lawyers Association, a reflection of the firm’s leadership, integrity, and record of success in complex injury cases.
Â
With every case we take, our goal is to secure the best possible outcome for our clients and their families. We investigate complex auto defects, challenge major corporations in court, and bring unmatched dedication and experience to every claim. When you need proven advocates who know how to win, trust our Washington, DC car accident lawyers to fight for the justice you deserve.
Schedule a free consultation with an experienced Washington, DC car accident attorney today by calling 202-960-4596. With Regan Zambri Long, your claim is in capable hands.
Have you or your loved one sustained injuries in Washington DC, Maryland or Virginia? Regan Zambri Long PLLC has the best lawyers in the country to analyze your case and answer the questions you may have.