Airbags are considered by many as a last line of defense against serious injury in a car accident. Airbags have sensors that make them deploy depending on the speed and angle of the collision. Defective airbags may deploy at below-normal speeds or fail to deploy at all. This improper airbag deployment can actually cause worse injuries than if the airbag had not deployed. Any number of flaws can cause defective airbags to fail. A recent study by the Kansas City Star found that between the years 2001 and 2006, conservative estimates indicate that at least 1,400 people died in front-impact car accidents after airbags failed to deploy. This number has risen over the past few years. In 2006 there was a 14% increase in such fatalities. Furthermore, the study asserts that when a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigation finds a defective airbag, it can take years for the agency to finally order a recall.
