Why didn t my airbags deploy

“‘I had a front-end collision. Why didn’t the airbags deploy?’ is a question I get asked by many customers who were involved in front-end collisions. I think the answer would be of great interest to the public.” — Bob Giorlando, manager, Lannan Collision, Woburn, Mass.

What makes airbags deploy in a collision is many times much different than people think. There are many reasons for them not to deploy in a crash, but one reason they do is the Delta-v, or a sudden change in velocity.

Many people think the crushing of metal is what deploys restraint systems. The crushing of metal is a result of a vehicle making contact with another object. The amount of strength of this crushing or strength of the materials has a tremendous influence on Delta-v, or how fast a vehicle decelerates or changes velocity. A stiffer vehicle such as a full-frame truck has a faster change in velocity than a car with a softer structure, thus requiring airbag timing to be adjusted for Delta-v for effectiveness. I do want to make it very clear that the amount of crush to a vehicle is not a qualifier for airbags deploying or not.

How They Work

Let’s look at how airbags work. In this example, I’ll use front-impact airbags for the driver steering wheel and passenger dash airbags.

The restraint systems, such as seatbelts and airbags, are designed to be force limiters. This means they’re used to reduce the energy of the crash on the human body. Sudden stopping in a crash is detrimental to safety. Seatbelts and airbags reduce the energy of the crash by controlling forward momentum, or controlling the forces reacting on internal organs and the exterior of your body. They slow this reaction at a controlled rate. In a sudden stop or uncontrolled rate of stop, the collision of the moving of your organs to the exterior of your body causes internal injuries, which are the leading cause of death in vehicle collisions. The stretching of the seatbelt to position your body for the airbag to absorb energy limits these life-threatening forces and keeps the spinal column in alignment, preventing neck injuries. This all works as long as the airbag has deployed at the right time. If it fails to do this, there can be some disastrous effects.

Airbags are designed to be fully inflated before the human body contacts them. They fully inflate and deflate in one to two seconds as most crashes are 7/10ths of a second in length. This requires them to deploy at the perfect time, and very quickly.

The average driver airbag deploys at 200 mph, while the passenger airbag is around 371 mph as the distance to the occupant is further away. If the airbag deployed too fast, it would deflate before the human body came in contact and thus would fail in protecting the person. If the airbag is late, the human body gets in the way of it deploying, causing injury or death. The trigger point of all this, established through crash testing, is the Delta-v. The Delta-v at which an airbag must deploy depends on year, make, model and construction. Sensors in vehicles detect Delta-v and react accordingly to save occupants.

Delta-v

During a crash, a series of sensors measure forces of the crash, or Delta-v. If the appropriate level of forces is detected, the computer reacts with an appropriate response. This response may be a seatbelt pre-tensioner by itself or an airbag. The timing depends on the manufacturers and knowing how the vehicle will react or absorb energy in a crash. Any modifications can change the airbag timing. There are also other inputs into a computer which change the reaction of airbags, one of which is seatbelt use. For example, driver’s seat position or weight, or OCS, in the passenger seat. These inputs, along with some others, make sure the seatbelts and airbags deploy as needed.

Impact Angle

One factor that eludes people on a frontal collision is impact angle. A front impact system will react as long as the Delta-v is within a parameter of force and within 30 degrees of vehicle centerline. This allows the occupants to be going straight into an airbag for maximum effectiveness. If the airbags deployed outside this range, it would limit the effectiveness or cause injury, as the person would be coming at an angle or to the side of the airbag. This bodily damage is better protected by side impact airbags. A crash occurring at an angle or when the vehicle is turning may not deploy airbags to protect occupants.

Summary

So the next time you see a pickup that has only minor damage yet the airbags deployed, you know the stiffness of the frame caused a high enough Delta-v to deploy the bags.

You also now know that when you see a car with major crush occurring, those crush and crumple zones absorbed enough of the crash energy to not cause a high enough Delta-v to trigger the airbags. Remember, the angles too may cause a system to not deploy. Front-impact airbags require a Delta-v in forward momentum to deploy.

Call the South Bend car accident lawyers today to discuss your accident and see how we may be able to help you file a claim. We offer a free consultation and there are no fees while we work on your case.

Below, we discuss what you should know about accident claims in which airbags never deployed and how you may still be eligible to pursue the compensation you need.

When Are Airbags Supposed to Deploy?

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), airbags are generally supposed to deploy when there is a moderate to severe crash. These types of crashes are defined as frontal or near-frontal crashes that are equivalent to hitting a solid fixture at about eight to 14 miles per hour.

Airbags may or may not deploy during a crash depending on:

• Place of impact
• Type of vehicles involved
• Placement of airbag sensors

• Design of vehicle’s airbag system
• Speed of the vehicles before the crash

Why Would My Airbags Not Deploy During a Crash?

There are a few reasons the airbags in your vehicle may not have deployed during an accident. The main one being that the impact to your vehicle was not severe enough to trigger the airbag sensors, therefore, the airbags would not be deployed.

The location of the impact to your vehicle also matters. Because the sensors for airbags are usually in the front-end of a vehicle, a rear-end collision may not trigger a deployment. Depending on the type of vehicle you have, this type of crash could result in your vehicle being declared a total loss, yet no airbags were ever deployed.

In some rare instances, the airbags may have failed to deploy during an accident because of a malfunction or lack of airbags. For example, if you were involved in a previous accident in which your airbags deployed, but upon repairing the vehicle the airbags and the sensors were not replaced, this could also result in a failed airbag deployment.

Even if the airbags did not deploy, you may have suffered injuries that require treatment. Sometimes crashes without airbag deployment can cause serious injuries with delayed symptoms. It is important to seek medical treatment even if you were involved in a minor accident.

Can I Still File a Claim if my Airbag Never Deployed?

If you were injured in an accident that was caused by someone else’s negligence, you have the legal right to pursue compensation by filing a claim with that person’s insurance. This holds true even if the airbags in your vehicle were never deployed.

If you can prove you suffered damages, such as injuries or property damage, you may be able to recover compensation. It is important to work with an experienced attorney to help prove another driver is responsible for the accident that caused your injuries.

Hurt After a Crash? Call Us Today

Our attorneys have spent decades representing injury victims throughout the state of Indiana and are prepared to do the same for you.

With a track record of success securing verdicts and negotiating million-dollar settlements, our attorneys have the experience to help you pursue the compensation you need for medical bills, lost wages and other damages.

You can discuss your claim with one of our attorneys during a free consultation with no obligation to pursue legal action. We do not charge you anything up front and only get paid if we recover compensation on your behalf.

Let us review your claim. Call today: (844) 678-1800

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