Airbag Lawsuit Attorney
Representing Victims of Defective and Exploding Airbags Nationwide
An airbag is designed to save lives in a collision, but defective inflators and volatile chemical propellants can instantly transform a critical safety system into a lethal explosive. When an airbag deploys with excessive force, sends razor-sharp metal shrapnel into the cabin, or fails to deploy entirely during an impact, vehicle occupants face catastrophic or fatal injuries.
At Matthews & Associates, we do not function as a referral agency or settlement farm. Led by founder David P. Matthews—a Board-Certified Personal Injury Trial Specialist by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization with over 150 civil verdicts—our firm brings elite national trial experience to complex automotive product liability cases. Our attorneys hold court-appointed leadership positions on Plaintiffs' Steering Committees in major federal litigation, representing injured consumers nationwide against global auto manufacturers and component suppliers.
Contact an experienced car accident attorney for a free legal consultation.
We may file or settle a claim individually or as part of a group on a case-by-case basis.
Whether your claim is filed individually or as part of a group fighting the same defendant, our goal is always to provide each of our clients with individual attention. This boutique-level service, combined with our national litigation powerhouse capabilities, ensures you receive both personalized care and the resources necessary to take on the largest corporations and manufacturers.
The Matthews & Associates Trial Advantage
- Board-Certified Trial Expertise: Less than 3% of Texas lawyers hold Board Certification in Personal Injury Trial Law. Automakers and defense counsel recognize when a law firm possesses the credentials to take a defective product case all the way to a jury verdict.
- Multi-Million Dollar Recovery Record: Our firm's track record includes a landmark $73 million verdict against Boston Scientific and a $33.7 million verdict against Rex Medical, proving our financial strength to prosecute complex corporate defect cases.
- Boutique Client Service with Powerhouse Resources: We combine individualized client care with the massive investigative capital required to analyze black box telemetry, perform metallurgical testing, and depose corporate engineering executives.
- Bilingual Support Nationwide: Remote virtual consultations and full Spanish-speaking services ensure that geography and language are never barriers to receiving premier legal representation.
We're Ready to Fight For You!
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“They are so helpful, kind, and knowledgeable.”
I love these guys! They are so helpful, kind, knowledgeable, smart, and good with people. They answer all your questions and if they don't know the answer, it doesn't take them long to get you the answer! I wouldn't want anyone else to handle my suit. They are AWESOME!- Genie S. -
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I've been working with Matthews & Associates for 2 years. I am impressed that the firm is always available and answers questions promptly. I am very satisfied with the services they provide and would recommend them.- Kweli Y. -
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- Ron S.Matthews and Associates are very informative. Kept me up to date on what was happening with my case. They were always polite when they were talking to me. Very professional and polite.
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“Matthews & Associates is one of a kind.”
Matthews & Associates is one of a kind. They treat you with respect. They support you when needed. Plus they have locations in Texas and California with wonderful customer service. Bilingual service is always available.- Sorangel T.
How Defective Airbags Cause Injury
Not all airbag injuries stem from the same defect. Common failure types include:
- Explosive Rupture: In Takata airbags, degraded ammonium nitrate propellant can combust too aggressively, rupturing the metal inflator housing and sending shrapnel into the vehicle cabin.
- Underinflation or Failure to Deploy: A defective sensor or wiring fault can prevent the airbag from deploying at all during a collision, leaving occupants without the protection they were promised.
- Delayed Deployment: An airbag that deploys a fraction of a second too late can strike an occupant who has already moved forward, causing severe facial or chest trauma.
- Unintended Deployment: Some defects cause airbags to deploy without a collision, potentially causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
Tire Defect Statistics You Should Know
Tire failures are far more common — and far more dangerous — than most drivers realize:
- Tire-related problems contribute to nearly 11,000 crashes each year in the U.S., causing hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries, according to NHTSA.
- A national crash study found that roughly 9% of crashes involved a tire-related problem before the crash occurred.
- NHTSA recorded 563 tire-related fatalities in 2022 alone.
- For commercial trucking specifically, tire blowouts are tied to an estimated 8,000 to 11,000 accidents each year, accounting for roughly 6% of all truck crashes, and contribute to more than 200 deaths annually.
Notable Defective Tire Cases and Recalls
Tire defect litigation has produced some of the most consequential product liability outcomes in U.S. history:
- The Ford/Firestone Tire Recall (2000): One of the most significant automotive safety failures on record. Firestone recalled 6.5 million SUV tires after tread separation on tires fitted to the Ford Explorer was linked to more than 100 deaths. The scale of harm and the companies' delayed response triggered nationwide lawsuits and reshaped how regulators oversee tire safety.
- The TREAD Act: The fallout from the Firestone crisis directly led to a $41.5 million settlement from Firestone and the passage of the TREAD Act, federal legislation that strengthened defect-reporting requirements and consumer safety standards for the entire tire industry.
- Commercial Trucking Tire Defects: Federal investigators have also scrutinized specific truck tire brands after more than a dozen blowout complaints prompted a formal NHTSA investigation, examining whether manufacturing defects — not just driver error or overloading — contributed to a string of fatal big-rig crashes.
What You Must Prove in a Defective Airbag Lawsuit
Airbag injury claims are typically brought as product liability cases under one or more legal theories:
- Manufacturing Defect: The airbag or its components (such as the propellant or inflator housing) were flawed during production, differing from the intended design.
- Design Defect: The airbag's underlying design was unreasonably dangerous, even when manufactured exactly as intended — this was central to the Takata litigation, where the ammonium nitrate propellant itself was found to degrade dangerously over time, especially in humid climates.
- Failure to Warn: The manufacturer knew or should have known about the defect and failed to adequately warn consumers or issue a timely recall.
Unlike an ordinary car accident claim, a defective airbag case is generally brought against the parts manufacturer, the vehicle manufacturer, or both — not just the other driver. This often means facing multiple corporate defendants with separate legal teams.
Identifying Corporate Defendants in Vehicle Defect Cases
Liability in a defective product lawsuit extends beyond the airbag manufacturer:
| Potentially Liable Entity | Basis of Product Liability Claim |
|---|---|
| Airbag & Component Manufacturers | Defective design, hazardous propellant selection, failure to warn |
| Automobile Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) | Negligent integration, delayed safety recalls, failure to test safety systems |
| Dealerships & Rental Fleet Operators | Selling or renting vehicles with outstanding, unaddressed NHTSA recalls |
Compensation Available in an Airbag Injury Claim
Depending on the severity of your injury, compensation in a defective airbag case may include:
- Medical Expenses: Emergency treatment, surgery, and ongoing care for injuries such as facial lacerations, eye trauma, or burns
- Lost Wages and Earning Capacity: Income lost during recovery, and diminished future earning potential for permanent injuries
- Pain and Suffering: Compensation for the physical pain and psychological impact of the injury
- Disfigurement and Scarring: Airbag shrapnel injuries frequently cause lasting facial and neck scarring
- Wrongful Death: In fatal cases, surviving family members may be entitled to compensation through a wrongful death claim
Defective Airbag Lawsuit FAQs
How do I know if my airbag was part of a recall?
You can check your vehicle's status using the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) VIN lookup tool at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or by contacting your vehicle manufacturer directly with your VIN.
Can I file a claim even if my airbag was already replaced under a recall?
Yes. If you were injured before the defective part was replaced, you may still have a valid claim for the injuries you already suffered, regardless of whether the recall repair has since been completed.
Who can be held liable for a defective airbag injury?
Potential defendants include the airbag or inflator manufacturer, the vehicle manufacturer, and in some cases the dealership or repair facility, depending on when and how the defect arose.
How long do I have to file an airbag injury lawsuit?
Deadlines vary by state and depend on when the injury occurred and, in some cases, when the defect was discovered. Because evidence like the airbag module can be lost or destroyed if a vehicle is repaired or scrapped, it's important to speak with an attorney as soon as possible.
What does it cost to hire a lawyer for an airbag injury claim?
Matthews & Associates handles these cases on a contingency fee basis. There are no upfront costs, and you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.
If you or someone you love was injured by an exploding air bag, contact an experienced air bag recall attorney at Matthews & Associates for a free legal consultation.
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