Phoenix Defective Airbag Lawyers
Airbags are a safety feature in motor vehicles that have saved countless lives—more than 50,000 lives over 30 years. When airbags function and deploy correctly, they can prevent drivers and passengers from receiving fatal injuries during a car accident. Unfortunately, sometimes defective airbags do not function as designed, causing severe or fatal injuries on their own.
If you or a loved one suffered injury because an airbag didn’t function properly, a Phoenix airbag failure injury lawyer from Gallagher & Kennedy can help you seek both justice and compensation. Our attorneys understand car accident laws and know how to build a solid case that proves the airbag failure caused your injuries.
How Our Phoenix Faulty Airbag Lawyers Help Accident Victims
Having an airbag failure injury attorney in Phoenix manage your case can greatly improve your chances of reaching a successful outcome. The attorneys at our firm have handled many similar cases and know how to conduct a proper investigation that identifies the liable party. Some people believe they can handle the claims process on their own. However well-meaning the efforts of these individuals, they lack the legal knowledge and the resources that an attorney can provide.
To get the maximum compensation possible, seek legal representation from Gallagher & Kennedy. Our team can fight for you to receive every penny you deserve after sustaining an injury caused by airbag failure.
Four Ways An Attorney Can Help You Recover More Compensation
Our Phoenix airbag failure injury attorneys can improve your chances for a better outcome.
- We can fully investigate the accident. Our team can investigate the cause of the accident and find out why the airbags didn’t deploy. The investigation can also provide valuable insight into liability and the evidence we need to build a solid case that proves why the liable party owes you compensation.
- We can negotiate with the insurance company. Insurance companies often make quick lowball offers in hopes that accident victims will accept them. Our attorneys can determine a fair settlement value for your case, so you don’t accept anything less than you deserve. We can also negotiate with the insurance company, using strategic tactics to secure a fair offer.
- We can represent you at trial. Sometimes, the insurance company won’t make a fair offer during negotiations. Our attorneys have many years of experience in litigating car accident cases. If necessary, we’re prepared to represent you in court and show why you deserve to recover the compensation you seek.
- We can manage all communications from start to finish. You don’t need to worry about talking with the insurance company or opposing attorneys while you’re trying to heal. We want to make this process as smooth and stress-free as possible so you can focus on recovering from your injuries. We are always available to answer questions concerning your case.
Other Benefits of Choosing Gallagher & Kennedy
For over 40 years, we have built a reputation for getting successful results for our clients. Because of our success rate, we have handled some of the highest-profile cases in Phoenix and the state. Our firm also has the financial resources to stand up against large corporations and insurance companies.
We treat each case as our own and provide compassionate legal representation and support to every client. We understand that getting injured is often a traumatic event. Our firm wants to lessen your stress and get you the financial compensation you need to move forward with your life.
Our main goal is to maximize results for our clients. Therefore, you can expect our team to work tirelessly to ensure we do everything in our power to win your case. We have over 210 years of collective experience in fighting for personal injury victims. With our team by your side, you can rest assured that every aspect of your case will be taken care of.
The Cost of Hiring an Injury Attorney
At many firms, the cost of hiring an attorney varies, and sometimes hidden fees come as a surprise. At Gallagher & Kennedy, we are upfront about our fees and ensure that you know the fee structure from the beginning. When you choose us as your legal advocate, you don’t have to pay us anything unless we successfully win your case.
Our clients need to hold the liable party accountable without worrying about the cost of legal representation. Therefore, we offer you:
- Free consultations: If you’re unsure if you want to move forward with an attorney, a free consultation is a great way to learn more about your options. A member of our team will review your case, answer your questions, and explain how our firm can help you recover financial compensation.
- Contingency fees: A contingency fee means you do not have to pay us unless we win your case and you receive money. Only then do we charge a small percentage of your winnings—you pay nothing upfront or out of pocket to our firm.
How Much Is My Airbag Failure Injury Case Worth?
The amount of compensation you could recover for an airbag accident case depends on several factors, such as the severity of your injuries. Usually, more serious injuries lead to more medical bills and more income loss. When you speak to our attorneys, we can provide an estimate of how much your case is worth.
To determine a fair settlement value for your case, our team must review your recoverable damages — the amount of money the liable party must pay to the injured person for causing their expenses and losses. Recoverable damages are often paid by settlement. If the case goes to trial, a judge could order the liable party to pay damages to the victim.
The types of damages that make up the bulk of the compensation you could recover are economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are monetary losses with a set financial value, while non-economic damages are non-monetary losses you’ve endured because of your injuries.
Economic Damages
Depending on the monetary losses you incur, you could recover various types of economic damages.
- Medical bills
- Future medical bills
- Lost income
- Diminished earning capacity
- Property damage
Non-Economic Damages
Non-monetary damages could include the physical and mental issues you experienced after the accident, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment
- Disability
- Disfigurement
- Loss of consortium or companionship (in the event of wrongful death)
Our attorneys use specific formulas to calculate an accurate estimate of your case’s value.
Airbags Can Cause Significant Injuries
If the airbag doesn’t deploy exactly as the manufacturer designed it to, it can cause serious or fatal injuries. Any malfunction can make a car accident more dangerous because of the airbag.
A recent example of this is the airbag recalls issued to Takata, an airbag manufacturer. Cars subject to the Takata airbag recall had caused severe injury to vehicle occupants; the malfunctioning airbags exploded upon deployment.
This is just one example of how faulty airbags can cause harm. Airbag injuries may also occur when a device:
- Fails to deploy: Airbag deployment doesn’t occur in every type of accident, such as a mild fender-bender. However, if it should have deployed and didn’t, your injuries could be far worse as a result.
- Deploys when it shouldn’t: Faulty airbags can deploy when they aren’t necessary, such as when someone hits a pothole or a curb.
- Deploys too aggressively: If the airbag deploys at a high speed, especially when the crash is at a lower speed, it could cause more harm than good.
- Deploys too late: A person could have already sustained a head injury by hitting the steering wheel or dashboard, then get hit again by an airbag that deploys too late. In many cases, the airbag deploying late is worse than not deploying at all.
Our Phoenix airbag injury attorneys can investigate how and why the airbag malfunctioned to determine which party (or parties) is liable for your injuries. We can hold the airbag manufacturer, vehicle manufacturer, and/or the person who caused that accident accountable if they should pay for your expenses and losses.
Why Do Airbags Fail During a Crash?
Several factors can influence why an airbag fails to deploy during a car accident.
These factors include:
- If the speed of the crash was not high enough to cause the airbags to deploy
- If the direction of the impact was not in a location where it would cause the airbags to deploy
- If the design strategy of the vehicle’s airbag system is ineffective
- If the vehicle protection system automatically turned off the airbag when it detected a low-weight object in the front seat
- If the car’s previous owner did not replace the airbag after a crash (this usually occurs when someone purchases a used vehicle and is unaware the airbag was never replaced)
When our attorneys investigate the accident, we can determine why the airbag didn’t deploy and hold the liable party accountable for your injuries.
Our Attorneys Can Prove the Defective Airbag Caused Your Injuries
To win a successful case, we must prove the cause of your injuries was a defective airbag. Because we have handled many similar cases in the past, we know how to identify the liable party, gather evidence, and build a solid case against them.
To prove a defective airbag caused your injuries, we must showcase:
- The airbag is defective and malfunctioned during a car accident. (For instance, the airbag should have deployed but didn’t, or it deployed when it shouldn’t have.)
- You or your loved one sustained severe injuries because the defective airbag malfunctioned, including if it deployed too aggressively or if it failed to deploy at all.
- You or your loved one suffered economic and non-economic damages because of your injuries.
Using this information, our team can seek the financial compensation you deserve from the liable party’s insurer or take your case to court.
What Should I Do After an Airbag Malfunction?
Immediately after the accident, try to get evidence that the airbag malfunctioned if you can. Potential evidence could include photos or videos of the airbag (or lack of airbag) after a crash. Make sure that you preserve all evidence if your car gets taken for repairs, such as the airbag or crash sensor. If there are any eyewitnesses to the crash, ask for their contact information.
To prove liability, we must prove that the person who caused the airbag defect acted negligently and caused your injuries. Preserving evidence is the key to doing that. Try to keep possession of your car for as long as possible so we can access any evidence needed throughout the claim or lawsuit process.
You Have Two Years to File a Lawsuit Against the Liable Party
State law limits the amount of time you have to seek compensation after an airbag failure injury. After sustaining an injury because of someone else’s negligent actions, you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. While this may sound like a long time, it’s crucial to give your attorney ample time to build a solid case.
Investigating the accident, gathering evidence, and negotiating with the insurance company all take time. Contacting an attorney soon after the accident helps ensure that we have enough time to prepare your case.
Contact Gallagher & Kennedy Today for a Free Consultation
Robert W. Boatman, Phoenix Defective Airbag Attorney
If you’re dealing with the aftermath of injuries related to an airbag failure, contact our firm today at (602) 530-8400. Our Phoenix airbag failure injury lawyers can assess your case for free, answer your questions, and explain your legal options. When you choose us to represent you, we’ll work tirelessly to help you reach a successful outcome.
A member of our team is ready to discuss the circumstances of your case and help you feel more confident about your future. After sustaining injuries in an accident, you deserve to hold the liable party accountable and move forward with your life. To get started, reach out to us today for your free, no-obligation consultation.
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Gallagher & Kennedy – Phoenix Office
2575 E Camelback Rd, Suite 1100
Phoenix, AZ 85016
Tel: (602) 530-8400