A defective airbag claim is a type of product liability and injury claim that focuses on whether an airbag restraint system was unsafe or did not perform as intended when it should have. The “problem” is usually not just that an airbag was involved in a crash. Instead, the claim typically alleges that the airbag module, sensors, wiring, control unit, or related components malfunctioned in a way that contributed to injuries.
In Texas, these cases often involve extensive documentation, including crash reports, vehicle inspection records, and medical records showing the nature and timing of injuries. Whether the airbag failed to deploy, deployed late, deployed with abnormal force, or triggered injury through unintended behavior, the central question is whether the restraint system’s performance was inconsistent with what it was designed to do.
Many people are surprised to learn that responsibility may involve more than one party. A vehicle manufacturer, component supplier, or other entity in the supply chain may have information relevant to design, quality control, recalls, and distribution. Even when a driver is not blameless for the crash, product liability concepts can still allow recovery if a defective restraint system played a meaningful role in the injuries.


