Inadvertent Airbag Deployment Involving a 1998 Cadillac Deville Results In Favorable Jury Verdict for Plaintiff
Recently a jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff in an inadvertent airbag deployment case involving a 1998 Cadillac. The plaintiff was driving down a gravel road when the vehicle’s airbag deployed without impact, crash, or any other reason. Repairs were made to the vehicle, including a replacement of the entire airbag system. Yet, several years later the plaintiff was driving the vehicle down a gravel road when the airbag again deployed without an impact, crash, or other reason.
Normally airbags are designed to deploy when a vehicle in forward motion decelerates rapidly. Most airbag systems are calibrated to sense vehicle deceleration corresponding to a frontal collision. However, unfortunately, sometimes airbags deploy at the wrong time and the inflation of the airbag becomes so sudden that the driver may be distracted, disoriented, or even knocked unconscious often resulting in catastrophic or fatal consequences.
As an experienced airbag defect lawyer, it appears that there has been an alarming increase in the number of injuries or fatalities as a result of airbag malfunction, including but not limited to inadvertent deployment. Many times inadvertent airbag deployments are caused by airbag sensor or electrical system defects. We have even reviewed some cases whether turning on the ignition can trigger the airbag deployment. Many manufacturers fail to utilize or design proper sensors or test programs that allow airbags to deploy even when the vehicle strikes a pothole or curb.
If you or a loved one is a victim of an inadvertent airbag deployment or other airbag defect injury, please contact one of our experienced Philadelphia airbag defect lawyers for a free, no obligation consultation.
