Defective Airbags Not So "Smart" After All
A series of defective product recalls have raised concerns about so-called "smart" airbags and occupant detection systems and whether the front passenger airbag in a car can be fooled into not deploying when it should or deploying when it should not. According to a news article in the Washington Times, consumer safety advocates are worried about such erroneous airbag detection, which they say could cause serious injuries and even death in the event of a car crash.
The occupant detection system of the front passenger seat is designed to signal the airbag whether to deploy, when to deploy and in some systems with how much force to deploy based on the weight of the passenger. That sounds like a pretty smart airbag. However, when these systems malfunction because of a product defect, passengers risk injury or death. Some of these systems apparently use sensors on a mat in the seat bottom to determine passenger weight. Others use bladders filled with gel. Safety researchers say that these smart systems are problematic because a number of different auto makers are having trouble getting it right.
These defective airbags have caused problems for top auto makers. In 2008, BMW recalled 200,000 vehicles because of some small cracks that could develop in the airbag sensors in the mat and prevent the airbag from deploying. Hyundai recalled nearly 394,000 Sonatas because the airbag sensors might mistake a small adult for a child and stop the airbag from deploying. Apparently there have been cases where the driver's front airbag deployed, but the passenger's did not and the passenger suffered serious personal injury.
Make no mistake--airbags have saved a lot of lives over the years and continue to do so. However, even as technology advances, these dangerous airbag defects cause thousands of catastrophic injuries and deaths. If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of an airbag defect or any auto product defect, you would be well advised to consult an experienced California auto products liability attorney to find out more information about pursuing your legal rights and options. You may be able to seek compensation from the manufacturer of the defective product.
