After a collision, people often focus on getting checked out and forget the details that matter for product-failure cases. If your airbag didn’t deploy, deployed unusually, or deployed in a way that worsened injuries, you should prioritize:
- Medical records from the first visit (urgent care, ER, follow-ups). Keep the discharge paperwork.
- Crash documentation: incident/report number if available, photos of the vehicle interior, and any visible restraint damage.
- Repair and parts records: invoices, what was replaced, and whether any airbag components were swapped due to malfunction.
- Vehicle information: VIN, recall notices you receive, and dates you brought the vehicle in for inspection/repairs.
For South Portland drivers, a common complication is that vehicles may be repaired quickly—especially when commuting needs don’t allow long downtime. Acting early helps avoid gaps in the chain of evidence.


