Can I Be Sued if My Airbag Fails to Deploy in an Accident?

Airbags are designed to save lives. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that airbags reduce the risk of death in a front-end collision by nearly 30%. But what happens if your airbag doesn’t deploy during a crash? Even more confusing, could you be held legally responsible if your passenger is injured because of it?

At Big Auto Accident Attorneys, our attorneys have handled countless auto defect and accident cases across Arizona. Here’s what you need to know about liability when an airbag fails to deploy — and whether you could be sued.

When Are Airbags Supposed to Deploy?

Airbags don’t go off in every accident. They’re engineered to deploy in moderate to severe crashes, usually front-end or near-front impacts. They may not activate in:

• Low-speed fender-benders
  
• Rear-end collisions
  
• Side-swipes or minor impacts
  

If your airbag didn’t deploy, the first question is whether the accident was severe enough to trigger it. If not, the lack of deployment may be normal — not a defect.

Common Reasons Airbags Fail to Deploy

When airbags should deploy but don’t, the cause is often linked to:

• Defective sensors failing to detect impact
  
• Faulty wiring or electrical issues
  
• Software malfunctions in the airbag control unit
  
• Manufacturing defects in the airbag itself
  
• Improper maintenance or previous repairs after earlier accidents
  

In many cases, the fault lies with the automaker or airbag manufacturer, not the driver.

Could You Be Sued Personally?

Generally, you cannot be sued just because your car’s airbag failed to deploy. Arizona law recognizes that ordinary drivers are not responsible for hidden defects in vehicle safety systems.

However, liability could be argued against you if:

• You knew the airbags were faulty (such as after a recall) and ignored it
  
• You tampered with or disabled the airbag system
  
• You failed to maintain your vehicle after prior accidents when airbag repairs were required
  

In most other cases, victims pursue claims against manufacturers or insurers — not the driver.

Who Is Typically Liable?

When an airbag fails to deploy, liability often falls on:

• Automakers (for defective design or production flaws)
  
• Airbag manufacturers (for defective components)
  
• Repair shops (if negligent work caused the system failure)
  

These cases often involve product liability claims, which are highly technical and require expert investigation.

What If You Were the Passenger?

If you were a passenger in a crash and the airbag didn’t deploy, you may be able to pursue compensation through:

• The driver’s insurance (if negligence caused the crash)
  
• The vehicle manufacturer (if defective airbags caused your injuries)
  
• Your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (if another driver caused the accident and lacks coverage)
  

Either way, the failure of a safety device should never leave you without legal options.

Evidence in Airbag Failure Cases

Proving an airbag defect requires specialized investigation. Attorneys often gather:

• Crash data from the car’s event data recorder (“black box”)
• NHTSA recall records and defect investigations
  
• Police reports documenting injuries and lack of deployment
  
• Expert analysis of wiring, sensors, and crash severity
  
• Medical records linking injuries to the airbag failure
  

This evidence can establish whether negligence, defect, or both were responsible.

Compensation Available

If you’re injured because an airbag failed to deploy, you may be entitled to damages for:

• Medical expenses (emergency care, surgery, rehab)
  
• Lost income and reduced earning potential
  
• Pain and suffering
  
• Emotional trauma
  
• Wrongful death damages (if a loved one was killed)
  

Arizona law allows victims to recover full compensation when defective safety equipment worsens accident injuries.

Why You Need a Strong Legal Team

Airbag failure cases are not ordinary car accident claims. They often involve:

• Multi-million-dollar automakers with powerful legal teams
  
• Product liability laws that differ from standard negligence claims
  
• Technical evidence that requires expert analysis
  

At Big Auto, we have the resources and experience to take on corporate defendants, hold manufacturers accountable, and fight for the justice you deserve.

Contact Big Auto Accident Attorneys

If you or a loved one was injured in a crash where the airbag failed to deploy, don’t face the insurance and automakers alone.

Call Big Auto Accident Attorneys in Arizona today for a free consultation. We’ll investigate your case, determine liability, and fight aggressively for the compensation you need.

Hurt in a crash with a defective airbag? Contact Big Auto now — we’re available 24/7, and you pay nothing unless we win.

Content reviewed by managing attorney, Nic Edgson. Nic has been an Arizona-licensed lawyer for more than a decade and focuses his law practice on helping people seriously injured in car accidents and truck accidents. He has represented thousands of clients and recovered more than $50 Million Dollars fighting for their injuries and medical bills. Throughout his legal career, Nic has helped those injured through some of the most difficult times in their lives.