Most drivers think that once an airbag deploys, their car is automatically totaled and their claim is simple. However, the truth is more complex. Airbag deployment can impact injury claims, repair costs, and even the resale value of your vehicle. Without the right guidance, you may end up with less compensation than you deserve.
If you were in a California crash where the airbags went off, here’s what you need to know.
Airbag Injuries and Insurance Company Tactics
When airbags deploy, the injuries can be real and costly. But instead of focusing on helping you recover, insurance companies often look for ways to limit what they pay.
One common tactic is to argue that your injuries came from the airbag itself, not the crash. By shifting blame, they hope to avoid covering the full extent of your medical bills, lost wages, or long-term care needs.
Insurers may also question whether your injuries are as serious as you claim, delay payment requests, or push low settlement offers, hoping you’ll accept less than you deserve. These strategies are designed to protect their bottom line, not your health.
An experienced car accident attorney can challenge unfair tactics by gathering medical evidence, consulting experts, and showing how the crash and the deployment caused your injuries. With the right legal support, you don’t have to let insurance companies control the outcome of your claim.
Is a Car Considered Salvage if the Airbags Deploy?
It’s a common misconception that airbag deployment automatically makes a car a salvage. In reality, insurers first decide whether the vehicle is a total loss by comparing repair costs to the car’s actual cash value.
If repairs meet or exceed around 80% of the actual cash value, the car is declared a total loss. After that, the California DMV will typically issue a salvage title, meaning the car is legally considered salvage.
For example:
- A compact car worth $6,000 that needs $7,500 in repairs would almost certainly be declared a total loss and given a salvage title.
- A newer SUV worth $40,000 that needs $8,000 in repairs likely would not.
Airbag activation typically indicates a high-impact collision. It often requires replacing not just the airbags, but also dashboards, sensors, seat belts, and computer modules.
These expenses can push repair bills into the thousands, increasing the chance that the car will be classified as a total loss and end up with a salvage title.
Typical Repair Costs After Airbag Deployment
| Item Needing Repair/Replacement | Estimated Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Single Airbag | $1,000 – $3,000 |
| Multiple Airbags | $3,000 – $7,000+ |
| Dashboard and Panels | $2,000 – $5,000 |
| Crash Sensors and Modules | $500 – $1,500 |
| Seat Belt System | $200 – $800 each |
| Labor and Additional Repairs | $1,000 – $3,000+ |
How Airbag Deployment Impacts Compensation
The release of airbags usually reflects the severity of the crash. Airbag deployment can protect you, but it also raises repair costs, lowers resale value, and may complicate your insurance claim.
For California drivers, understanding how airbags impact both injury and property damage claims is key to recovering fair compensation.
Airbag Deployment Can Strengthen Your Injury Claim
Airbag deployment can strengthen your personal injury claim. In California, injury compensation is based on proving both the severity of the accident and the impact on your life.
Because airbags only deploy in significant collisions, they serve as evidence that the crash had enough force to cause real injuries. Beyond that, airbags themselves can cause harm, adding medical costs and recovery challenges to your case.
Deployed airbags are strong evidence that the accident was significant. This supports your claim for:
- Medical bills from hospital visits, therapy, or surgery
- Lost wages if your injuries kept you from working
- Pain and suffering caused by the trauma of the accident
Property Damage Compensation After Airbag Deployment
Replacing airbags, sensors, and dashboards is expensive. Even after repairs, your car may lose resale value because buyers and dealerships see it as less safe. This drop in value is called diminished value.
In California, you may be able to pursue diminished value compensation if another driver was at fault. This type of claim isn’t automatic and insurers often push back. However, with strong evidence and legal support, you can recover not only repair costs but also the true reduction in your car’s market value.
Note: Every case is different. Eligibility for diminished value compensation in California depends on the facts of your accident and insurance coverage. An attorney can evaluate whether this type of claim applies to your situation.
Do Airbags Determine Fault?
Although airbag deployment is proof that the collision was severe, it does not reveal who caused the accident. Insurance companies sometimes try to use data from a vehicle’s event data recorder (commonly called a “black box”) to argue fault. These devices can show details like speed, braking, or seat belt use in the moments before a crash.
While event recorder data can provide useful details, it rarely tells the full story. For instance, the report might show the speed at which the airbags deployed, but it won’t capture critical factors like whether another driver was texting, failed to yield, or ran a red light.
That’s why fault is usually determined by looking at all available evidence, such as police reports, witness statements, photos, video, and physical damage to the vehicles.
Our skilled car accident lawyer can put these pieces together and challenge attempts by insurers to use airbag data against you. This ensures that the blame is placed where it belongs and your right to full compensation is protected.
How Our Attorneys Fight for Crash Victims After Airbag Deployment
If your airbags deployed in a crash, you may still have a strong personal injury claim. Deployment itself is proof that the accident was severe enough to cause real harm, whether from the force of the impact, the airbags, or both.
This is where an experienced car accident attorney can make a difference. We can:
- Prove liability by showing another driver’s negligence or a defective airbag caused your losses.
- Document injuries such as burns, fractures, concussions, or chest trauma tied to the crash.
- Calculate damages including medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and diminished vehicle value.
- Challenge insurers who try to argue your injuries came from the airbag alone or minimize payouts.
With the right legal support, you can turn airbag deployment from an insurance company excuse into strong evidence for full compensation.
Get a Free Case Review from Our Car Accident Attorneys
Airbag deployment is a sign of a serious crash. Don’t let the insurance company undervalue your injuries or your vehicle’s true loss.
At El Dabe Ritter Trial Lawyers, we’ve spent more than 20 years helping crash victims across California recover millions in compensation.
Our team knows how to build strong cases by gathering medical evidence, proving the severity of the crash through airbag deployment, and fighting for both injury and property damage claims, including diminished value.
We handle the insurance companies so you can focus on healing.
Call us today for a free consultation! You pay nothing unless we win.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog post is not intended as legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. You should consult with an experienced attorney for advice on your specific situation.