Airbags are designed to save lives, but they can also cause serious injuries during a crash. When an airbag deploys, it does so with explosive force, and that force can fracture bones, damage your eyes, burn your skin, and cause traumatic brain injuries, even in accidents where the airbag worked exactly as intended.
When a defective airbag is involved, you may also have a product liability claim against the manufacturer on top of your injury claim against the at-fault driver.
Missouri law gives injured drivers the right to pursue compensation from every party responsible for their harm. That includes the driver who caused the crash, the company that made the airbag, and in some cases, a repair shop or dealer who failed to address a known recall.
What Injuries Do Airbags Commonly Cause?
Even when an airbag works exactly as designed, it deploys with explosive force. That same speed that protects you from the dashboard can also cause serious harm to your face, chest, and upper body.
Common airbag deployment injuries include:
- Facial fractures: The force of the bag can break your nose, cheekbones, jaw, or teeth on impact.
- Eye injuries: Direct contact or chemical irritants released during deployment can cause lasting vision damage.
- Hearing damage: Deployment creates an extremely loud blast that can result in permanent hearing loss.
- Burns and abrasions: Friction from the nylon bag or chemical propellants can burn your skin.
- Chest and rib fractures: The steering wheel airbag often strikes the chest hard enough to break bones.
- Spinal injuries: The sudden jolt can cause whiplash and damage the discs in your neck or back.
- Internal organ damage: The blunt force can bruise or tear your lungs, liver, or spleen.
- Traumatic brain injuries: If the bag strikes your head, it can cause a concussion or a more serious brain injury.
Sometimes these injuries happen not because of the crash itself, but because the airbag was defective.
Do Defective or Recalled Airbags Change Your Claim?
Yes, a defective airbag changes your legal options significantly. It opens up a product liability claim against the manufacturer, separate from any claim against the driver who caused the crash.
Product liability is a legal concept that holds companies responsible for selling dangerous or faulty products. You do not need to prove the company was careless. You only need to show the product was defective and caused your injury.
One of the most well-known examples is the Takata airbag recall. These airbags ruptured during crashes and sent sharp metal shrapnel into drivers and passengers. It remains the largest automotive safety recall in United States history, affecting tens of millions of vehicles across 19 automakers.
Other common airbag defects include:
- An airbag that fails to deploy during a serious crash
- An airbag that deploys unexpectedly with no collision
- A delayed deployment that fails to protect you in time
- An inflator that ruptures and sends shrapnel into the cabin
- Faulty sensors that misread the severity of an impact
Knowing what went wrong is what determines who our Missouri auto accident attorneys can hold responsible.
Who Is Liable for Airbag Injuries in Missouri?
Liability depends on the cause of your injury. In some cases, the at-fault driver is fully responsible. In others, the vehicle or airbag manufacturer shares the blame.
We investigate every angle of your crash to identify all responsible parties. Depending on the facts, we may pursue:
- The at-fault driver: When their negligence caused the crash that triggered your airbag.
- The vehicle manufacturer: When the car’s design or the airbag installation was flawed.
- The airbag manufacturer: When the airbag unit itself was defective, such as in Takata recall cases.
- A repair shop or mechanic: When improper service or installation caused the malfunction.
- A used car dealer: When a vehicle was sold with a known, unrepaired recall.
We can pursue multiple defendants in the same lawsuit. This is important because it gives us more avenues to recover the full compensation you deserve.
How Do We Prove an Airbag Hurt You?
The most important thing you can do right now is preserve your vehicle. Do not allow it to be repaired, scrapped, or destroyed. The car itself is evidence.
Keeping the vehicle intact allows us to inspect the deployed airbag, the sensors, and the event data recorder, which is sometimes called the black box. This device stores information about your vehicle’s speed and impact force at the moment of the crash.
Other evidence we gather to build your case includes:
- Photos of the deployed airbag and your physical injuries taken at the scene
- Medical records that link your injury patterns directly to airbag impact
- Vehicle maintenance records and any official recall notices tied to your car
- Expert inspection reports from engineers who specialize in airbag systems
Missouri recognizes three types of product defects: a manufacturing defect, a design defect, and a failure to warn consumers of known dangers. We analyze your case to determine which type applies and build our argument from there.
What Should You Do After an Airbag Injury?
The steps you take in the hours and days after the crash directly affect the strength of your claim. Here is what we recommend:
- Get medical attention right away, even if you feel fine. Some injuries take time to appear.
- Take photos of the deployed airbag, your injuries, and all vehicle damage before anything is moved.
- Do not authorize repairs or allow the car to be sent to a salvage yard.
- Save the police report and check your vehicle identification number online for any open recalls.
- Keep every medical bill, prescription receipt, and record of missed work.
- Do not give a recorded statement to any insurance adjuster before speaking with us first.
Insurance adjusters are trained to minimize what they pay out. Anything you say before you have legal representation can be used to reduce your settlement.
What Compensation Can You Recover for Airbag Injuries?
Missouri law allows you to recover compensation across three categories of damages. Each one reflects a different part of what the crash took from you.
| Damage Type | What It Covers |
| Economic | Medical bills, future medical care, lost wages, lost earning capacity, vehicle damage |
| Non-Economic | Pain and suffering, emotional distress, disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life |
| Punitive | Awarded when a manufacturer knowingly sold a dangerous product or acted recklessly |
The total value of your claim depends on the severity of your injuries, the insurance policies involved, and whether a defective product played a role. We evaluate all of these factors before we ever negotiate on your behalf.
Do not accept any settlement offer from an insurance company before speaking with us. Early offers are almost always far below what your case is actually worth.
What if You Were Partly at Fault or Not Wearing a Seat Belt?
Missouri uses a pure comparative fault rule. This means you can still recover compensation even if you share some of the blame for the crash.
Your final compensation is simply reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are found 20 percent at fault on a $100,000 claim, you still recover $80,000.
Many people also worry that not wearing a seat belt will destroy their case. Under Missouri law, failing to wear a seat belt can only reduce your compensation by a maximum of one percent. It is far less damaging to your claim than insurance companies want you to believe.
Defendants often argue that victims sat too close to the steering wheel or ignored recall notices. We anticipate these arguments and know exactly how to counter them.
How Long Do You Have to File in Missouri?
Missouri gives you five years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury or product liability claim. That may sound like plenty of time, but waiting puts your case at serious risk.
Vehicles get repaired or scrapped. Surveillance footage disappears. Witnesses forget what they saw. The sooner we start building your case, the more evidence we can preserve.
If a loved one died from airbag injuries, the deadline is shorter. Wrongful death claims in Missouri must be filed within three years of the date of death.
Contact Our Missouri Car Accident Law Firm Today
At Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers, we focus exclusively on auto accident law. We are the only law firm in Missouri with this singular focus, and we have been fighting for injured Missouri drivers since 1990.
We have a long track record of recovering compensation for our clients. We handle every case personally, and you will never feel like just a number here.
We offer free consultations, and you pay nothing unless we win. We deal with the insurance companies, the manufacturers, and the legal process so you can focus on getting better.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Sue for Airbag Injuries Caused by a Defective Product in Missouri?
Yes, you can file a product liability lawsuit against the manufacturer if a defective airbag caused your injuries. This claim is entirely separate from any lawsuit against the driver who caused the crash.
What Should I Do With My Vehicle After Airbag Deployment?
Do not allow the vehicle to be repaired or scrapped before we can inspect it. The deployed airbag, sensors, and black box are critical evidence in your case.
Can I Still Recover Compensation if the At-Fault Driver Only Has Minimum Insurance?
Yes, we can look for additional compensation through your own underinsured motorist coverage. If the airbag was defective, we can also pursue a separate product liability claim against the manufacturer.
Does Not Wearing a Seat Belt Ruin My Airbag Injury Claim?
No, Missouri law limits the impact of seat belt non-use to a maximum one percent reduction in your compensation. You can still pursue a full claim for your injuries.
Who Pays My Medical Bills While My Airbag Injury Claim Is Pending?
Your health insurance or your auto policy’s MedPay coverage will typically cover your bills while the case is open. We can also help you arrange medical liens so providers agree to wait for payment until your case settles.
Does an Active Takata Recall Affect Who I Can Sue?
Yes, an active recall expands your legal options by adding the airbag manufacturer as a potential defendant. A recall is also powerful evidence that the product was known to be dangerous before your crash.
