In the real world, airbag problems often show up in one of a few ways:
- Airbag didn’t deploy even though the collision seemed severe enough to trigger a restraint response.
- Airbag deployed incorrectly—for example, when the vehicle dynamics didn’t match what the system should have sensed.
- Airbag deployed with abnormal force, contributing to facial, neck, or hearing injuries.
- A later recall or repair raises new questions about whether the vehicle’s restraint system had a safety issue.
For residents dealing with Oregon crash investigations, the key is that your case usually depends on linking your injury to the airbag’s behavior and proving the malfunction is tied to a product responsibility theory—not just the fact that a crash occurred.


