Residents often notice airbag issues in one of a few predictable ways:
- No deployment despite a serious impact (especially when the crash severity suggests the airbag should have fired).
- Deployment that seems “wrong”—for example, firing when it shouldn’t have based on the collision type and vehicle dynamics.
- Visible injury pattern consistent with restraint failure—such as facial trauma, burns, hearing issues, or other injuries that appear connected to the airbag’s performance.
- Recall-related confusion after the fact—where you later learn your vehicle may have been tied to a safety campaign, repair bulletin, or component replacement.
If any of these ring true, it’s important not to assume the problem is “just the accident.” In Massachusetts, the key question is whether the restraint system’s performance can be tied—through evidence—to the injuries you received.


