Airbags save thousands of lives, yet a defective airbag can turn one crash into two: the first with another vehicle and the second with a nylon cushion that explodes at almost 200 mph. When airbag injuries occur, victims soon learn that modern supplemental restraints work alongside seat belts but can create new hazards if they misfire or fail.
A proper airbag deployment protects the chest and head. However, a faulty airbag can rupture, fire shrapnel, or inflate with too much force. These failures produce serious injuries ranging from eye trauma to internal bleeding and even fatal injuries. Before the dust settles, medical bills, lost wages, and emotional distress can overwhelm a family already coping with pain.
If you or a loved one has suffered airbag injuries in any South Carolina car accident, get help from the injury lawyers at Joye Law Firm Injury Lawyers, and we will help you demand every dollar the law allows.
How Airbag Technology Works and How Defects Create Different Failure Modes
Every system relies on three parts:
- Airbag module: fabric bag, inflator, and cover hidden in the steering wheel, dash, seat, or roof rail.
- Crash sensor: measures deceleration and tells the module that a car crash is happening.
- Diagnostic unit: the computer that checks the system each time the vehicle starts.
However, there are many ways the system can fail. A cracked inflator weld lets moisture inside, causing propellant to degrade, explode, and fire metal through faces and necks. A mis-calibrated crash sensor can trigger unnecessary deployment, causing injuries without impact. A faulty diagnostic unit may clear the warning light even though the system is disabled, leaving occupants unprotected during the next collision.
In short, airbags work only when each component does its job in milliseconds.
South Carolina Product-Liability Basics: How Joye Law Firm Proves Your Airbag Case
South Carolina recognizes three product-liability theories that let injured drivers and passengers seek compensation:
Theory | What It Means | Examples of Airbag Claims |
Design defects | The product is unsafe. | The inflator uses an unstable propellant that degrades. |
Manufacturing defects | Something went wrong on the line. | Faulty sensors, bad welds, or contaminated propellants create one airbag defect among thousands. |
Failure to warn | Not enough instructions or warnings. | No notice that a minor crash can trigger the passenger bag. |
Our personal injury attorney team downloads crash data, inspects the airbag module, diagnostic unit, and crash sensor, and reviews medical records to determine whether injuries came from the collision or the defective component. Once the defect is clear, every business in the chain, such as manufacturer, distributor, dealer, or shop, can be held liable.
Counterfeit Airbags and Improper Installation: Hidden Dangers After Repairs
A growing black market trade in counterfeit airbags has led to explosions, non-deployment, and fresh airbag accidents long after the original recall. Non-authorized repair facilities sometimes install the wrong module entirely, creating delays or outright failure. Always verify replacement work with an authorized dealer, request part numbers, and keep service receipts in case injuries occur from improper installation.
Airbag-Related Injuries in South Carolina (Why They Happen and Who Gets Hurt)
Even in a minor crash, an airbag deploys with violent energy inside a closed cabin. Victims often suffer:
- Chest contusion and rib fractures
- Head injuries (traumatic brain injury and concussion compression)
- Cervical spine fracture and whiplash-type damage
- Eye injuries and loss of vision
- Knees strain when legs hit the dashboard
- Lasting emotional distress
What to Do If You’ve Been Injured by an Airbag
- Seek immediate medical care and insist every symptom you’re experiencing is written in your chart.
- Report the defect to NHTSA and the vehicle manufacturer.
- Preserve the vehicle and do not let the insurer repair or scrap the vehicle until an airbag injury lawyer inspects the evidence.
- Collect evidence including pictures of the steering wheel, shards, witness statements, and the crash report.
- Contact an attorney promptly. South Carolina gives you three years to file a product liability claim. If you miss the deadline, you may lose the right to pursue compensation.