When the Very Thing Meant to Save You Makes It Worse, We Take Action
If a defective airbag or failed seat belt made your injuries worse during a crash, you may be entitled to file a product liability claim against the manufacturer. At Golden State Lawyers, we help clients across California hold automakers and parts suppliers accountable when crash safety systems don’t work as they should.
These are high-stakes cases involving serious harm, and we know how to prove the failure and fight for full compensation. Whether your airbag didn’t deploy, exploded on impact, or your seat belt unlatched mid-crash, preventable failures turned a survivable collision into a life-altering event. We take over from here and hold manufacturers responsible.
When Safety Systems Fail, Injuries Get Deadlier
Seat belts and airbags are installed to reduce harm, not increase it. But when these systems fail, the result is often catastrophic. A missed deployment, faulty latch, or poorly designed sensor can leave you unprotected in a high-speed collision.
Instead of walking away with bruises, victims face skull fractures, spinal cord injuries, internal organ damage, and life-threatening trauma from injuries that should have been prevented by the very technology designed to save lives.
Failures That Lead to Severe Injury or Death:
- Airbag Never Deployed: The sensor failed, the unit was defective, or the system was never triggered, leaving you unprotected during a violent crash.
- Airbag Deployed Improperly: The airbag exploded too late, too fast, or with shrapnel, causing burns, broken bones, or facial disfigurement.
- Seat Belt Came Unlatched on Impact: A faulty locking mechanism or design flaw caused the belt to release under force, ejecting or slamming you into the interior.
- Seat Belt Snapped or Tore: Weak materials or manufacturing defects caused the restraint to tear loose during a collision.
- Child Restraint or Booster Failed: A defective harness or connector gave way, causing avoidable injury to a child passenger.
- Known Defect Was Hidden or Ignored: Your car was under recall for a restraint issue, but the problem was never disclosed or fixed.
If any of these failures played a role in your injuries, Golden State Lawyers can begin building your case immediately. We work quickly to preserve physical evidence, document the safety malfunction, and take legal action before manufacturers can cover their tracks.
How We Handle Complex Crash Safety Failures
With years of product liability litigation experience in cases involving restraint system defects, we know how to pinpoint technical errors, translate engineering failures into strong legal arguments, and hold major automotive companies accountable.
Mechanical Failure Analysis
We consult with expert engineers to evaluate the vehicle’s restraint components to highlight where the breakdown occurred in design, materials, or sensor logic. From airbag inflators to belt retractors, we identify the exact mechanical point of failure and document how it contributed to the severity of your injuries.
Crash Data Retrieval
Our team retrieves and analyzes onboard crash data, including impact speed, deceleration patterns, and deployment sequences. This digital footprint allows us to prove whether the system reacted too late, not at all, or in a dangerous manner inconsistent with industry safety standards.
Expert Witness Collaboration
We bring nationally recognized safety professionals, who provide expert insight and sworn testimony to strengthen your case. Their evaluations support claims that the product did not perform as a reasonably safe system should have under the circumstances.
Manufacturer Document Access
Using subpoenas and legal requests, we secure internal documents from manufacturers, such as defect reports, pre-market testing records, and communication with regulatory agencies. This process helps uncover if the company was aware of the issue and failed to make necessary corrections or notify consumers.
Injury Impact Mapping
We work closely with your physicians to understand the full medical picture, linking your specific injuries to the failure in safety performance. Whether it's a spinal injury worsened by non-deployment or facial trauma from over-pressurized inflation, we connect the technical evidence to the physical harm you suffered.
Client-Centered Legal Support
Our attorneys in California visit homes and hospitals when needed to make legal help accessible during recovery. There are no upfront legal fees, and we take on all costs involved in building your case. We’re here to support you every step of the way, and we only get paid when your case results in compensation.
Find Your Eligibility for a Restraint System Failure Claim
Golden State Lawyers carefully investigates the facts of your crash to identify whether a safety system failure played a role, and who should be held legally and financially responsible. You may qualify to file a claim if:
- You were wearing a seat belt that unlatched, tore, or failed to restrain you properly during a collision
- Your airbag did not deploy in a crash with sufficient impact force
- The airbag deployed too aggressively or exploded with metal fragments
- A child safety restraint failed to protect a minor passenger during the crash
- You received a recall notice involving airbags or seat belts before or after your accident
- You suffered injuries that are inconsistent with the expected severity of the crash impact
- An expert evaluation linked your injuries directly to a malfunction in the vehicle’s safety system
Our team handles every part of the claim process, from initial evidence collection to expert consultation and litigation. Even if you're unsure whether the failure caused your injuries, we can review your case and give you clear answers based on fact, not speculation.
Contact Golden State Lawyers to take legal action and hold manufacturers accountable.