Trusted Airbag Failure Advocates for Injured North Mississippi Families
At Chatham Gilder Howell Pittman, we represent people across North Mississippi who were hurt when an airbag did not do its job. An airbag that fails to deploy, fires too late, or ruptures and sprays metal fragments into the cabin can turn a survivable crash into a life-changing injury. Our Southaven & Hernando product liability lawyers investigate what went wrong, work with engineers to preserve the evidence, and hold manufacturers accountable under Mississippi’s product liability laws. When a defective airbag that was supposed to protect you becomes the reason you were hurt, you deserve a legal team that will listen to your story and dig for answers.
Why Injured Families Across North Mississippi Trust Our Firm
Choosing the right lawyer after a serious injury matters, and families in Hernando, Southaven, and the surrounding communities have relied on us for generations. Airbag claims are rarely simple. Manufacturers and their insurers have deep resources and every reason to deny that anything went wrong. We take these cases seriously. Things that set us apart include:
- Local roots since 1932: We are a community firm, not a national call center, and you work directly with an attorney who knows North Mississippi courts.
- Trial-ready representation: We are prepared to take manufacturers to court when they refuse to offer a fair settlement.
- Proven results: Our attorneys have recovered millions of dollars for injured clients, including multiple million-dollar recoveries. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome, and every case depends on its own facts.
- Licensed in two states: We are admitted in both Mississippi and Tennessee and serve clients throughout the region.
- No fees unless we win: Consultations are free, and you owe us nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
- A team that listens: We treat clients like neighbors, keep you informed, and answer your questions directly.
When you hire us, you gain advocates who understand both the science of a defective airbag and the human toll of a serious injury. For more than 90 years, our firm has stood with injured people in DeSoto County and across North Mississippi, and we bring that same commitment to airbag injuries that arise from serious car and truck crashes.
How a Defective Airbag Causes Serious Injury
Airbags save lives, and federal safety officials estimate that frontal airbags have saved tens of thousands of lives over the past several decades. When an airbag is defective, though, it can cause the very harm it was built to prevent. Common airbag failures include:
- Failure to deploy: The airbag stays in place during a serious crash and leaves the occupant unprotected.
- Late or improper timing: The airbag fires after the moment of impact or at the wrong point in the crash.
- Rupture and shrapnel: A defective inflator bursts with too much force and expels metal fragments into the cabin, the danger at the center of the Takata recall.
- Overly aggressive deployment: The airbag inflates with excessive force and causes fractures, burns, or facial and eye injuries.
- Counterfeit or substandard parts: A cheap replacement inflator installed after an earlier crash fails when it is needed again.
These failures can lead to traumatic brain injuries, spinal damage, disfigurement, and in the most tragic cases a wrongful death. If you were hurt in a crash, try to keep the vehicle and the airbag intact so experts can examine what went wrong.
Proving a Defective Airbag Claim Under Mississippi Law
Defective product claims in Mississippi are governed by the Mississippi Products Liability Act. To hold a manufacturer, designer, or seller responsible, an injured person generally must show that the airbag was defective, that the defect made it unreasonably dangerous, and that it was a proximate cause of the injury. The law recognizes several ways a product can be defective:
- Manufacturing defect: The airbag departed in a material way from its intended design or specifications.
- Design defect: The airbag was dangerous as designed, and a feasible safer alternative would have likely prevented the harm.
- Failure to warn: The product lacked adequate warnings or instructions about a danger the maker knew or should have known about.
Timing is critical. Under Mississippi law, an injury claim for a defective product generally must be filed within three years of the injury, and key evidence can disappear long before that deadline. You can check your vehicle for an open airbag recall while your claim moves forward, but a recall is not necessary to pursue a claim. Because these cases turn on preserving the vehicle and proving a technical defect, it is wise to speak with a personal injury attorney early.
Damages Available in a Defective Airbag Injury Claim
If you were injured by a defective airbag in Mississippi, you may be entitled to compensation for both financial losses and the personal impact of your injuries. In product liability cases like these, recoverable damages generally include:
Economic damages (your out-of-pocket and financial losses), such as:
- Past and future medical bills (hospital care, surgery, medication, rehabilitation, therapy)
- Lost wages and loss of earning capacity if you can’t work the same hours or job
- Transportation to medical appointments, home or vehicle modifications, and other necessary expenses
- Property damage related to the incident
Non-economic damages (the intangible effects of your injuries), such as:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental anguish and emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment or quality of life
- Disfigurement or scarring
- Loss of consortium or companionship for your spouse or family
Mississippi law caps non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, at one million dollars in product liability cases. Because how that cap applies depends on the specifics of your claim, it is important to speak with a qualified Mississippi product liability attorney.
In cases involving particularly reckless or knowing misconduct by a manufacturer, punitive damages may also be possible, subject to additional legal limits. An experienced lawyer can assess whether those standards might apply to your situation.
Contact Our North Mississippi Airbag Failure Lawyers Today
If a defective airbag caused your injury, we are ready to help you understand your options and take the next step. Contact us to schedule a free consultation with a member of our team. There are no attorneys’ fees unless we recover compensation for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do with my vehicle after an airbag injury?
Keep the vehicle and the airbag, whether it deployed or not, in the condition they were in after the crash. The airbag module, sensors, and related parts are often the most important evidence, and an experienced attorney can arrange for engineers to inspect them before anything is repaired or discarded.
Who can be held responsible for a defective airbag?
Depending on the facts, the vehicle manufacturer, the airbag or inflator maker, or another company in the supply chain may be responsible. We investigate how the airbag was designed, built, and installed to identify every party that may owe you compensation.
How long do I have to file an airbag injury claim in Mississippi?
Mississippi law generally gives injured people three years from the date of injury to file a product liability lawsuit. Some circumstances can change that window, so it is best to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible to protect your rights.
