What If Your Airbags Didn’t Deploy During a Tempe Collision?
When a car accident happens, most drivers assume their airbags will deploy automatically — cushioning the blow and potentially saving lives. But what if they don’t? If you were in a Tempe crash and your airbags failed to go off, the situation may be more serious than you think.
It doesn’t matter whether the wreck happened in South Tempe, near ASU, or on a quiet residential street. If your vehicle's safety systems failed, you may be facing greater injury risk and more complicated legal questions than a typical collision. A Tempe car accident attorney can help you understand your options and whether the lack of airbag deployment impacts your case.
Why Airbags Sometimes Don’t Deploy
Contrary to popular belief, airbags are not designed to go off in every crash. Manufacturers program them to deploy under specific conditions, typically when:
The collision force meets a certain threshold (usually around 12–15 mph or higher)
The impact angle is in a “deployment zone” (such as head-on or side impact)
Sensors detect that a seat is occupied
If your crash didn’t meet those criteria — for example, a low-speed parking lot collision or a glancing blow from the rear — the airbags may not be triggered. But sometimes, airbags fail even when they should have gone off. And when that happens, serious questions arise about vehicle defects and liability.
When Airbag Non-Deployment Becomes a Legal Issue
If you suffered significant injuries in a Tempe crash and your airbags failed to deploy during a qualifying impact, you may have a claim beyond the typical car accident case. Specifically, there could be grounds for a product liability claim against the vehicle manufacturer or parts supplier.
Airbags can fail due to:
Sensor malfunctions
Electrical problems
Prior deployments that weren’t properly reset
Manufacturer defects
Aftermarket repairs or replacements that interfere with safety systems
Crashes at intersections like Mill Avenue and Broadway — known hot spots for T-bone collisions — are often severe enough to require airbag deployment. If yours didn’t deploy and you suffered head, neck, or spinal injuries as a result, it’s critical to investigate whether a defect played a role.
Can You Still File a Personal Injury Claim?
Yes — and it’s important to understand that your right to compensation doesn’t depend on whether the airbags deployed. If another driver caused your crash through negligence, you still have a right to pursue a claim for:
Medical bills
Lost wages
Pain and suffering
Long-term disability or treatment needs
However, the fact that your airbags didn’t deploy may increase the severity of your injuries — and in some cases, affect how the insurance company tries to value your case. For example, if you suffered a traumatic brain injury or spinal trauma that could have been reduced by a functioning airbag, that element could increase your potential recovery — especially if a manufacturer is also found partially liable.
Steps to Take After an Airbag Fails to Deploy
If you're in a Tempe crash and the airbags didn’t go off, the most important thing you can do is preserve evidence. Do not let the car be scrapped, salvaged, or repaired until a qualified investigator can examine it.
Other critical steps include:
Documenting the damage with detailed photos
Getting a full mechanic or dealership inspection to evaluate airbag system faults
Obtaining a crash report from Tempe police or Arizona DPS
Seeking immediate medical attention, even if symptoms feel mild at first
Keeping records of every doctor visit, diagnosis, and symptom that follows
In neighborhoods like Meyer Park or Holdeman, where accidents may involve stop-and-go traffic or distracted driving, low-speed impacts can still cause serious injuries. Lack of airbag deployment doesn’t erase the harm — it can worsen it.
What If You Were in a Rental Car or Rideshare?
It’s not uncommon for people in Tempe to be injured while riding in a rental or rideshare vehicle. If the airbag system fails in one of these cars, things become more complicated.
Responsibility might fall on:
The rental company, for not maintaining the vehicle
The rideshare company, if the car didn’t meet safety standards
The manufacturer, if a true defect is found
You’ll want a lawyer to investigate all three possibilities. These companies tend to deny responsibility quickly, especially if the crash looks “minor” from the outside.
Should You Still Get Medical Attention?
Absolutely. Even if your head didn’t strike anything and your seatbelt seemed to do its job, injuries from non-deployment can be subtle at first and devastating later. These include:
Whiplash and neck trauma
Back injuries from uncontrolled body movement
Blunt-force trauma from steering wheels or dashboards
Head injuries not caught by imaging right away
Delayed symptoms are especially dangerous in Tempe crashes involving younger or active drivers who may “shake off” early pain only to be sidelined days later. Always get checked — and always follow up.
Final Thought
When airbags fail, the consequences can be life-altering — and the path to accountability becomes more complex. Whether the system malfunctioned, the crash wasn’t forceful enough to trigger them, or another factor was involved, the lack of deployment does not mean you’re out of options.
If you’ve been in a Tempe crash and walked away wondering why your airbags didn’t go off, it’s time to dig deeper. An experienced attorney can help you find out what happened, who may be responsible, and how to build a strong case for the full compensation you deserve.
