Airbag Injury Claims

Airbags are designed to protect passengers during a collision, but when they deploy incorrectly or are defective, they can cause serious harm. If this happens, you may be entitled to make an airbag injury claim and receive compensation for your injuries.

Liability for an airbag injury can rest with various parties, including another road user, the vehicle owner, an auto repair garage, or the airbag manufacturer.

If you were injured by an airbag and wish to make a claim, we are here to help. Our team of specialist solicitors will offer you a free case assessment and a no win no fee service if you are eligible to proceed.

For free legal advice, call 0800 470 0474 today or use our online claim form to request a call back.

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Table of Contents

• Am I entitled to compensation for an airbag injury?
• How do I make an airbag injury compensation claim?
• Who will my claim be against?
  • Another road user
  • The vehicle owner
  • Your employer
  • The manufacturer
  • A garage or auto repair shop
• What are the most common airbag-related injuries?
  • Injuries caused by deployment
  • Injuries caused by failure to deploy
• How can I prevent airbag deployment injuries?
• How do I claim compensation for minor road traffic injuries?
• What evidence do I need to support an airbag injury claim?
• How much compensation could I claim for airbag injuries?
• Can I make an airbag injury claim on behalf of a loved one?
• Can I claim compensation for psychological trauma alone?
• Will I be able to claim if I was partly at fault for my airbag injuries?
• What is the time limit to claim for injuries caused by a defective airbag?
• Will my solicitor work under a No Win No Fee agreement?
• How long will an airbag injury claim take?

Am I entitled to compensation for an airbag injury?

A free consultation with an experienced personal injury solicitor is the best way to determine if you have a valid airbag injury claim. Before taking on your case, they will verify whether:

• The defendant owed you a duty of care.
• They breached this duty through negligence.
• This breach led to an accident or a faulty airbag.
• You suffered injuries as a result.
• You are within the legal time limit to start a claim (usually 3 years).

If these criteria apply to your case and can be supported with evidence, you should be eligible for compensation.

How do I make an airbag injury compensation claim?

To make a successful personal injury claim following an airbag-related accident, we advise you to follow these steps:

• Seek immediate medical care to have your injuries diagnosed and treated.
• Gather supporting evidence, such as pictures of the accident scene and your injuries, dashcam footage and witness contact details.
• Report the accident to the police if there were serious injuries or if you were involved in a hit-and-run.
• Keep a journal of your symptoms and the impact of the injuries on your life, as well as all relevant documents for related financial losses and expenses.
• Contact a solicitor specialised in road traffic accident claims to determine the merits of your case. If you can proceed, they will guide you through all the steps of the claims process.

Who will my claim be against?

Depending on the circumstances of your accident, you could claim compensation from various parties:

Another road user

All road users owe each other a legal duty of care under the Road Traffic Act 1988. If another driver, pedestrian or rider caused an accident and your airbag deployed, you could claim compensation for your injuries from them.

The vehicle owner

If you were a passenger in a vehicle and the driver caused an accident or failed to maintain the car regularly and adequately check its airbags, they could be liable for your injuries.

Your employer

If the accident happened while driving a work vehicle, your employer could be liable under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. This could be due to failing to repair defective airbags or neglecting regular maintenance checks.

The manufacturer

The airbag itself could be faulty and could fail to inflate or deploy too forcefully. This could be due to design flaws, assembly mistakes or inadequate fitting. In this case, you could claim compensation under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.

A garage or auto repair shop

If an airbag system was incorrectly installed, repaired or reset, the vehicle repair garage could be held accountable.

What are the most common airbag-related injuries?

There are two main ways in which airbags can cause harm: by deploying with excessive force or by failing to deploy when needed. Both situations can result in severe and sometimes life-threatening injuries.

Injuries caused by deployment

Airbags are designed to protect and save your life in the event of a crash or collision, but the force with which they deploy can still cause injuries, including:

• Facial injuries, such as cuts, bruises, dental damage or a broken nose.
• Eye injuries, such as scratches to the cornea, infections or even temporary blindness.
• Whiplash and other neck injuries from the sudden impact.
• Hearing damage due to the loud deployment sound.
• Broken shoulders, arms or collarbones, if the airbag deploys with too much force.
• Chest injuries, such as fractured ribs, aorta ruptures and respiratory infections.
• Burn injuries and abrasions from friction and chemicals.
• Psychological trauma, including anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Injuries caused by failure to deploy

If your airbag is defective and fails to deploy, the injuries you could suffer could be catastrophic. These include:

• Head and brain injuries from hitting the dashboard or the inside of the car.
• Severe facial trauma, such as a broken jaw, cheekbone fracture or lost teeth.
• Spinal injuries such as herniated discs, fractures and spinal cord damage.
• Deep lacerations caused by impact trauma, sharp metal, or broken glass.
• Fatal injuries that could have been prevented if the airbag had deployed as expected.

How can I prevent airbag deployment injuries?

There are a few steps you can take to protect yourself and your loved ones from injuries caused by airbags, whether they are faulty or deploying as intended:

• Sit upright and keep at least 10 inches from the steering wheel or dashboard.
• Always wear your seatbelt and ensure all passengers wear theirs.
• Position the steering wheel so that the airbag is directed towards your chest, not your neck or face.
• Hold the steering wheel at the 9 and 3 o’clock positions to keep your arms from hitting your face if the airbag deploys.
• Have all children aged 12 or younger ride in the back, in a properly fitted car seat.
• Check the airbag warning lights and have them inspected immediately if the lights turn on.

How do I claim compensation for minor road traffic injuries?

With the introduction of the Whiplash Reform Programme on 31 May 2021, you can now settle small claims valued at under £5,000 by using the government’s Official Injury Claims portal. The majority of these claims are whiplash claims.

This means you can make your claim online yourself, without needing legal representation or going to court. Also, you will not need to contribute towards your legal fees if your claim is successful, unless your award for pain and suffering is over £5,000 or the total value of your claim is over £10,000.

However, we advise you to speak to a solicitor before making your claim, so you can understand precisely how much compensation you may be entitled to receive.

What evidence do I need to support an airbag injury claim?

If you suffered an airbag injury and you want to seek compensation, various types of evidence can help to support your claim, including:

• Medical records detailing your injuries and treatment.
• Independent medical reports detailing your prognosis and future care needs.
• Police reports, if applicable.
• Visual evidence, such as dashcam footage and pictures of the accident scene and your injuries.
• Vehicle inspection reports confirming the defect.
• Statements from witnesses who saw the accident and can explain what happened.
• Your diary of symptoms and details of how the accident has affected your life.
• Financial records, such as receipts, wage slips and invoices, to help you claim back any losses and expenses incurred as a result.

How much compensation could I claim for airbag injuries?

The amount of compensation that could be awarded to you will be calculated based on two types of damages caused by the airbag injury:

• General damages are based on the injury or injuries you’ve sustained. This takes into consideration physical pain, discomfort, mental distress, psychological trauma, scarring, disfigurement, impact on hobbies and reduced quality of life.
• Special damages refer to financial losses and expenses related to the accident. Examples include loss of earnings, private medical treatments, medical aids, care costs and travel expenses to medical appointments.

Try our personal injury compensation calculator to find out within minutes how much your claim could be worth.

Can I make an airbag injury claim on behalf of a loved one?

Yes, if a loved one suffered injuries caused by an airbag, you could make a compensation claim on their behalf if they are either:

• A child under the age of 18.
• An adult who is a protected party, meaning they lack mental capacity because of a brain injury or a pre-existing condition such as Down syndrome or autism.

To claim on their behalf, the court must first name you as their litigation friend. You can read more about your responsibilities and the entire process here: What is a litigation friend?

Keep also in mind that you may be eligible to claim compensation if a loved one suffered a wrongful death because of a faulty airbag. If you qualify as their dependant, you can claim:

• Loss of financial support and services.
• Funeral expenses.
• The pain, suffering and financial losses they incurred between the accident and their death.
• A bereavement award of £15,120.

Can I claim compensation for psychological trauma alone?

Airbag deployment can be a frightening and traumatic experience, especially if it is related to a serious crash. Even if you did not suffer physical injuries, this could cause:

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
• Travel anxiety or fear of driving.
• Sleep disturbances or depression linked to the accident.

If you can provide evidence that a third party’s negligence directly caused you emotional harm or worsened a pre-existing condition, you could be eligible to claim for psychological trauma alone. This usually requires medical evidence from a psychologist or psychiatrist.

Will I be able to claim if I was partly at fault for my airbag injuries?

Yes. You can make a claim for compensation even if you were partly at fault for your injuries, for example, by:

• Not wearing your seatbelt.
• Sitting too close to the dashboard or steering wheel.
• Driving recklessly, above the speed limit or distracted.
• Failing to maintain the airbag system properly.

As long as another party caused your accident, you may still receive compensation. However, if contributory negligence is established, your payment will be reduced by a percentage that reflects your part of the blame.

What is the time limit to claim for injuries caused by a defective airbag?

The Limitation Act 1980 imposes a three-year time limit for making a claim, usually starting from the date of the accident. There are a few exceptions:

• A parent or legal guardian can make a child injury claim at any time before the child’s 18th birthday.
• There is no limitation period to claim on behalf of a loved one as their litigation friend if they are mentally incapacitated.
• If you lost a loved one due to an airbag malfunction, you have three years to start a claim from the date of death.

Will my solicitor work under a No Win No Fee agreement?

If your case has merit, a no win no fee solicitor will represent you under a conditional fee agreement, which means that:

• You will not have to pay any upfront legal fees.
• There is no payment required if your claim is unsuccessful.
• If you win the claim, your solicitor will be entitled to a success fee deducted from your compensation award (capped by law at 25% of it).

How long will an airbag injury claim take?

The time it takes to settle a claim can vary widely, depending on several factors. For example:

• If liability is clear and the injuries are relatively minor, your case could be settled in less than six months.
• If there are disputes over liability, your injuries are severe, or you cannot agree on the compensation award, negotiations could take 12 to 24 months or more.
• If the claim goes to trial, it may take even longer to resolve your claim.

Your solicitor will always try to resolve your case in the shortest time possible and may be able to secure interim payments for you if you have urgent financial needs.

If you want to start an airbag injury compensation claim, call 0800 470 0474 today to speak to a solicitor or request a call back. You will receive a free consultation and advice on your legal options.

Last edited on 6th Oct 2025

With over 15 years’ experience in the legal sector, Nicholas Tate (LLB Hons, LLM in Health Law) has extensive experience across all areas of personal injury and medical negligence claims.