Portland Airbag
Injury Attorney

We Represent Victims of Injuries Caused by Vehicle Airbags in Portland and Throughout Oregon

Airbags have been mandatory in cars and light trucks since 1998. While they are undoubtedly a beneficial safety feature, reportedly saving over 50,000 lives within a 30-year period, they can also cause catastrophic injuries. When airbags malfunction, deploy unexpectedly, or contain defective components, the consequences can be particularly severe. Victims may face extensive medical treatment, lost income, and long-term physical limitations.

At Johnston Law Firm, our Portland airbag injury lawyers represent individuals and families throughout Oregon who have suffered injuries caused by defective airbags or negligent drivers. Led by attorney Marc A. Johnston, our team investigates the circumstances of these incidents, identifies potentially responsible parties, and pursues compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. Whether your injuries resulted from a defective airbag or a collision caused by another motorist, we want to hear about your case.

Injured by an airbag during a car accident? Call Johnston Law Firm at (503) 546-3167 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Portland airbag injury attorney. We handle car accident cases on a contingency fee basis, so you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.

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How Johnston Law Firm Handles Airbag Injury Claims in Portland

Airbag injury claims can be particularly complicated because they may involve defective vehicle components, negligent drivers, or multiple responsible parties. At Johnston Law Firm, we understand the evidence and legal challenges involved in these cases. Our Portland car accident attorneys handle the legal process on your behalf, working to establish liability and pursue the compensation you deserve.

Here’s how we can help with your airbag injury claim:

• Investigating the accident: We examine crash reports, vehicle damage, photographs, witness statements, and other evidence to determine how your injuries occurred.
• Identifying airbag defects: We investigate potential problems involving airbag inflators, crash sensors, manufacturing defects, and improper deployment.
• Preserving critical evidence: We take steps to protect the damaged vehicle, airbag components, electronic crash data, and maintenance records before they are lost or destroyed.
• Determining who is responsible: We evaluate potential claims against negligent drivers, vehicle manufacturers, airbag manufacturers, repair facilities, and other liable parties.
• Working with qualified experts: We consult accident reconstruction specialists, automotive engineers, and medical professionals when technical evidence is needed to support your case.
• Documenting your injuries and losses: We assess medical expenses, lost earnings, future treatment needs, pain and suffering, and other damages resulting from the incident.
• Handling insurance companies: We manage communications with insurers, challenge unfair settlement offers, and negotiate for compensation that reflects the full extent of your losses.
• Preparing your case for trial: If responsible parties refuse to offer a fair settlement, we are prepared to present your claim in court and fight for your rights.

Our goal is to take the legal burden off your shoulders while you focus on recovering from your injuries. Whether your claim involves a defective airbag or another driver’s negligence, we will work to hold the responsible parties accountable and pursue the maximum compensation available for your injuries.

Why Airbag Injuries Happen

There are two main reasons for airbag injuries: (1) the driver or passenger being too close to the airbag, or (2) the airbag malfunctioning. Both issues can cause severe injuries and even death.

Airbag deployment injuries

Airbags deploy when vehicle crash sensors detect a car accident. They are usually set to deploy when the force of the crash is the equivalent of hitting a rigid wall at 10-12 mph if the person is unbelted – or 16 mph if the person is belted. Therefore, even relatively low-speed crashes can lead to airbag deployment.

Upon impact, the airbag’s electronic control unit sends a signal to an inflator in the airbag module. In less than 1/20th of a second, a chemical reaction causes the airbag to inflate.

According to the NHTSA, severe injuries or even death can occur if the driver or passenger is too close to properly working airbags or comes in direct contact with them when the airbag first starts to deploy. The organization’s advice is to sit as far back as possible from frontal airbags to prevent these injuries. Wearing a seatbelt is also crucial. 

Additionally, rear-facing car seats should not be used in front of active frontal airbags, and children aged 13 or under should not be allowed to sit in the passenger seat.

Airbag malfunctions

Tragically, defective airbags have caused serious injuries and driver fatalities in recent years. Takata, the airbag manufacturer, is currently recalling tens of millions of products installed in cars between 2002 and 2015. It was discovered that being exposed to heat and humidity over an extended period could cause airbags to explode during deployment. 

As of May 2024, these airbags had reportedly caused 27 deaths and over 400 injuries in the United States. While 88 percent of affected airbags have now been fixed, millions still remain on the road. You can check if your vehicle is affected on the NHTSA website.

Common Airbag Injuries We Handle for Our Portland and Oregon Clients

Airbag injuries can happen for a number of reasons, including:

• Faulty airbag: When airbag crash sensors malfunction, they can deploy at the wrong time with serious consequences
• Gas injuries: Inhaling the gas released during airbag deployment can cause respiratory conditions, such as pneumonitis
• Shrapnel: Flying components from the propellant canister can strike drivers and front-seat passengers, causing injuries

Defective airbags generally cause the most severe injuries. However, even when they work correctly, and the vehicle occupants wear seatbelts, airbags have the potential to cause serious damage. 

Some common airbag injuries include:

• Chest injuries, when the airbag impacts the chest during the collision
• Fractures, especially to the skull, ribs, and wrists
• Internal bleeding from the pressure of the airbag against the body
• Facial injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Broken neck and whiplash injuries
• Eye and ear injuries
• Injuries to the fetus in a pregnant woman

Each accident is unique, so it is vital to seek qualified legal advice from a law firm that understands the complexities of this kind of personal injury lawsuit. At a free consultation, a Johnston Law Firm airbag injury attorney can listen to your story and may be able to pursue compensation for your losses.

What to Do After an Airbag Injury in Portland

If you suffer injuries from an airbag during a car accident, the steps you take afterward can significantly affect your health and your ability to recover compensation. Even if your injuries initially seem minor, you should take precautions to protect yourself and preserve evidence that may support a future personal injury or product liability claim.

Our Portland airbag injury attorneys recommend taking the following steps:

• Seek immediate medical attention: Have a healthcare professional evaluate your injuries, even if you feel relatively fine. Airbag deployment can cause internal injuries, concussions, and other conditions that may not produce immediate symptoms.
• Report the accident: Contact law enforcement and request an official accident report. This documentation can help establish the circumstances surrounding the collision and airbag deployment.
• Document your injuries: Take photographs of visible burns, bruises, cuts, and other injuries. Keep copies of medical records, diagnostic results, treatment recommendations, and related expenses.
• Preserve the vehicle and airbag components: If you suspect an airbag malfunction, avoid repairing, dismantling, or disposing of the vehicle before the relevant evidence can be examined. Airbag modules, sensors, and electronic crash data may be essential to proving a defect.
• Gather accident-related evidence: Save photographs of the accident scene, vehicle damage, witness contact information, and any available video footage. These materials may help establish whether the airbag deployed improperly or another party caused the collision.
• Check for airbag recalls: Use the NHTSA recall lookup tool to determine whether your vehicle has an outstanding airbag recall. A recall may provide important information about a potential defect, although its existence alone does not establish liability.
• Be cautious when speaking with insurance companies: Avoid accepting a quick settlement or making recorded statements before understanding the full extent of your injuries and legal options.
• Consult an experienced airbag injury attorney: Contact Johnston Law Firm to discuss your accident. We can investigate the circumstances, help preserve critical evidence, and determine whether you may have grounds for a personal injury or product liability claim.

Crucial evidence in airbag injury cases

If you suspect that faulty airbags may have caused your injuries, make sure that valuable evidence is retained. Ideally, you will need to retain the vehicle, along with the airbag parts, to prove that airbag defects were the cause of your injuries.

This may be difficult if your car was declared a total loss and the insurance company wants to keep possession of it. Talk to the personal injury lawyers at Johnston Law Firm who may be able to help you keep your car and preserve vital evidence for your case.

Getting Justice After an Airbag Injury

If a faulty airbag caused your injuries, you may be able to seek compensation for your losses, such as medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. 

An airbag injury lawyer could help you pursue a claim against:

• The airbag manufacturer
• The vehicle manufacturer
• Any party responsible for inspecting, maintaining, or replacing the airbag

To be successful, a car accident attorney must prove that the airbag was defective and that the fault was the direct cause of your injuries. Unlike many car accident cases, this will be a product liability case. This means that your attorney does not have to prove negligence – just that the product was defective.

When you are at fault for a car accident

It may be possible to recover damages for injuries caused by a defective airbag even if you were at fault for the car accident. So don’t quickly conclude that your case is invalid. Talk to a Johnston Law Firm airbag injury attorney to discover the legal options open to you.

When a loved one dies due to a faulty airbag

Losing a cherished family member is a tragedy under any circumstances. When it results from a defective airbag that should have protected your loved one, the distress is compounded. Sadly, both passenger and driver fatalities have occurred due to faulty airbags. In such situations, the surviving family members have the right to pursue justice for their deceased relative.

During your free consultation, a Johnston Law Firm wrongful death attorney will listen compassionately to your story. He or she will talk you through the legal avenues available that can enable you to rebuild your life after your tragic loss.

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