Deployment Failure in Airbags

When an airbag deploys too late, the driver and occupant are not protected from injury resulting from contact with the steering wheel or windshield. Signs that an airbag has deployed in a tardy fashion include occupant marks on the steering wheel, a bent steering wheel or a deformed air bag module covering. An airbag should deploy when a forward-moving vehicle decelerates rapidly. That corresponds to a front collision at speeds of about 20 to 25 mph.

Black Box Contents

• Determining why an airbag has failed to deploy or is late in deployment can be discovered by downloading the black box that is contained in the vehicle. This will reveal critical data regarding the problems with the air bag and the severity of the wreck, according to Butlerwooten.com.

Failure to Perform

• Airbags consist of a complex system that includes a microchip-embedded accelerometer as well as a sensor that informs the airbag to inflate. If the sensor or accelerometer aren't working correctly, the airbag may fail to deploy or deploy when it shouldn't.

Replacement Airbags

• If your airbag has deployed successfully and you want a replacement, there is a risk that the replacement airbag modules won't be connected or installed properly, making them nonfunctional. In the event of a second crash, the new yet incorrectly installed airbags may not deploy.

Specifics of an Accident

• The airbag may not deploy depending on the specifics of the accident. These include speed, angle of collision, the type of object that is hit and the specifics of your particular vehicle, explains Avvo.com, a legal referral service.