Boston Airbag and Seatbelt Injury Car Accident Lawyer
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Reviewed by: Christopher DiBella
June 12, 2026
On This Page
- How Seatbelt and Airbag Use Can Affect Your Car Accident Claim
- Common Airbag Injuries After a Car Accident
- Common Seatbelt Injuries in Car Accidents
- When Airbag or Seatbelt Injuries May Lead to a Legal Claim
- Who Can Be Held Liable for Airbag or Seatbelt Injuries?
- How Our Boston Car Accident Lawyers Handle Airbag and Seatbelt Injury Cases
- Compensation Available for Airbag/Seatbelt Injuries in Massachusetts
- What To Do After an Accident Involving Airbag or Seatbelt Injuries
- Frequently Asked Questions on Airbag and Seatbelt Injuries
- Speak With a Boston Airbag and Seatbelt Injury Lawyer Today
How Seatbelt and Airbag Use Can Affect Your Car Accident Claim
Seatbelt and airbag use can directly affect the amount of compensation you can recover after a crash. Under Massachusetts’ comparative negligence law, your compensation may be reduced if your own actions contributed to your injuries, including not wearing a seatbelt or intentionally disabling your vehicle’s airbags. If you’re more than 51% at fault, you may lose your right to recover damages altogether.
Injuries can still happen even when you take proper safety precautions. Seatbelts can cause pressure-related injuries, and airbags can lead to burns or impact trauma during deployment. If a safety device contributed to or worsened your injuries, that can become part of the overall liability analysis and affect each party’s percentage of fault.
Some car accident injuries result from vehicle defects, potentially exposing manufacturers to liability. In one case, our client was wearing her seatbelt, but the airbag failed to deploy, and the force of the impact caused her to suffer serious injuries.
Our Case Results
Our client was involved in an accident when another vehicle struck our client’s vehicle on the left side of her car while our client was stopped. At the time of the accident, the client had pain in her neck and back and was evaluated by EMS but did not go to the hospital. She was wearing her seatbelt at the time of the accident, and her airbag did not deploy. When her car was struck, her head hit the headrest as she was looking straight ahead at the time of the impact. Since the accident, she has had trouble with daily tasks, walking and standing up, as well as trouble sleeping and lying down for extended periods of time. She has had trouble sitting and moving around since the accident and has had injections to try and repair her
Common Airbag Injuries After a Car Accident
Airbags are designed to deploy with rapid force to reduce the risk of the upper body striking the vehicle’s interior during a crash. While this mechanism has saved countless lives, it can also contribute to car accident injuries in certain cases. Some of the most common injuries related to airbag deployment include:
- Facial and eye injuries: The airbag can strike the face with significant force, especially if the victim is seated close to the airbag, leading to facial bruising or eye damage.
- Burns: The chemical reaction that inflates the airbag releases heat, which can cause burns to any skin exposed to the fabric.
- Broken bones: If a driver’s hands are on the steering wheel at the time of deployment, the airbag may strike their arms and cause bone fractures in the upper limbs. Forceful deployments can also cause rib fractures.
- Neck injuries: The sudden force of deployment can cause the head and neck to jolt backward or sideways, leading to whiplash or herniated discs.
- Hearing injuries: Airbag deployment produces a loud noise, which can cause temporary hearing loss or ringing in the ears.
Common Seatbelt Injuries in Car Accidents
A seatbelt helps to reduce accident fatalities by holding the body in place during a crash, but that restraint can place significant pressure across the shoulder, chest, and abdomen. When a collision happens, the force travels through the belt into the body, which can lead to “seatbelt syndrome.”
This type of injury often involves visible bruising or abrasions across the stomach or chest, along with internal injuries, such as intestinal damage, lung collapse, or lacerations of the liver and spleen. Other victims may suffer fractures of the rib, sternum, clavicle, and cervical spine, in addition to damage to the arteries or veins in the neck.
The risk and severity of seatbelt injuries vary based on how the seatbelt fits and how the body moves at the moment of impact. A lap belt positioned too high on the abdomen can direct force into softer tissue instead of the hips, increasing the risk of internal injury. Body type also matters—seatbelts are designed to fit an average adult frame, so the shoulder strap may sit too high on the neck in smaller individuals.
When Airbag or Seatbelt Injuries May Lead to a Legal Claim
In many cases, airbag and seatbelt injuries are part of a standard car accident claim against the at-fault driver. However, these injuries can raise additional legal issues when a safety system doesn’t function as expected or contributes to more severe harm than it should have.
For example, a claim may go beyond the typical accident case if an airbag fails to deploy in a serious collision, deploys too forcefully, or deploys at the wrong time. Similarly, a seatbelt that doesn’t lock properly or fits improperly may indicate liability beyond a reckless driver.
Who Can Be Held Liable for Airbag or Seatbelt Injuries?
One or more parties may be responsible for airbag or seatbelt-related injuries in a motor vehicle crash, including:
- A reckless driver: If another driver caused the crash, they may be liable for any resulting injuries.
- A vehicle manufacturer: If an airbag or seatbelt failed to function properly in a crash, the automaker may be liable for injuries linked to the defective safety system.
- A component manufacturer: If a component has a defect, the company that designed or produced it may share responsibility for the injuries it caused. The Takata airbag recall, which involved defective airbag inflators, is one example of how a faulty part can lead to expanded liability.
- A maintenance provider: If a mechanic or repair shop’s improper work affected how a safety system functioned, it may be partially liable for the injuries.
Determining fault in these cases can be complex because it requires analyzing both the initial cause of the crash and how the safety features responded. Our defective airbag lawyers are prepared to investigate your crash from every angle and pursue compensation from all liable parties.
How Our Boston Car Accident Lawyers Handle Airbag and Seatbelt Injury Cases
Airbag and seatbelt injury claims often require a deeper investigation than a typical car crash case. When you turn to us for help, we’ll examine both how the accident happened and what occurred inside the vehicle at the moment of impact.
This may involve reviewing data from the vehicle’s Event Data Recorder—also known as the “black box”—a built-in system that captures information such as speed, braking, seatbelt use, and airbag deployment. Our team may also analyze witness statements and dashcam footage to gain further insight into the factors that led to the crash.
We may also inspect the vehicle, review maintenance and manufacturer records, and examine safety complaints filed with agencies such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Our strategy may also include working with third-party experts to analyze how the crash occurred and determine whether the vehicle’s airbags or seatbelts functioned as intended.
Compensation Available for Airbag/Seatbelt Injuries in Massachusetts
If you suffered airbag or seatbelt-related injuries in a car accident, you may seek compensation for the full impact your injuries have had on your life. This may include several types of damages:
- Economic damages: These cover the financial losses you’ve suffered because of your injuries. They may include past and future medical expenses, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, and disability-related expenses.
- Non-economic damages: These address the personal impact of your injuries, such as physical pain and suffering and emotional distress. They may also include loss of enjoyment of life if your injuries affect your ability to participate in activities you previously enjoyed.
What To Do After an Accident Involving Airbag or Seatbelt Injuries
Taking the right steps after a car accident involving airbag or seatbelt injuries can make a major difference in your health and legal options. Here’s how to protect yourself:
- Report the accident. Call 911 and request a police report. This creates an official record of the crash.
- Document the scene. Take photos of the accident scene, including vehicle damage, the interior cabin, and your visible injuries. Collect contact and insurance details from everyone involved, including witnesses.
- Seek immediate medical attention. Get evaluated as soon as possible, even if your injuries appear minor. Prompt medical attention establishes a link between the accident and your injuries.
- Preserve the vehicle. Avoid repairing or disposing of the vehicle until your legal team can inspect it.
- Be careful what you say. Don’t provide a statement to the insurance company before you have legal representation.
- Speak with our Boston car accident attorneys early. We can evaluate whether a defective safety system contributed to your injuries and guide you through your next steps.
Frequently Asked Questions on Airbag and Seatbelt Injuries
Explore our answers to common questions from people who’ve experienced airbag or seatbelt-related injuries in Boston.
Can Airbags Cause Injuries in Low-Speed Crashes?
Yes. Airbags can deploy with significant force, regardless of the speed at the time of impact. Airbag injuries can occur during a low-speed collision if you are sitting close to the steering wheel or if defects cause the airbag to explode upon deployment.
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim in Massachusetts?
What Evidence Is Important in These Cases?
Key evidence includes the police report, medical records, photos of injuries and vehicle damage, and data from the vehicle’s Event Data Recorder. Vehicle inspection reports, maintenance records, and expert analysis may also support a claim involving airbag or seatbelt injuries. Key evidence includes the police report, medical records, photos of injuries and vehicle damage, and data from the vehicle’s Event Data Recorder. Vehicle inspection reports, maintenance records, and expert analysis may also support a claim involving airbag or seatbelt injuries.
Is a Seatbelt Injury Covered by Car Insurance in Massachusetts?
Speak With a Boston Airbag and Seatbelt Injury Lawyer Today
If you were injured in a crash and believe an airbag or seatbelt may have contributed to your injuries, you may have more than a standard accident claim. You deserve clear answers about what happened and what your options are moving forward.
With over 20 years of experience advocating for injured people throughout Massachusetts and New Hampshire, DiBella Law is prepared to determine what led to your injuries and fight for maximum compensation on your behalf. Complete our online contact form or call (617) 870-0907 to start moving forward with a free consultation.
