Can You Sue if a Defective Airbag Causes an Injury in Texas?

 Posted on October 06, 2026 in Defective Products

Airbags are designed to protect drivers and passengers during a crash, but a defective airbag can lead to serious injuries. In Texas, you can sue when a defective auto part, causes or worsens an injury.

If you were hurt by a defective airbag in 2026, an Irving, TX defective vehicle attorney can help you navigate your claim.

What Makes an Airbag Defective Under Texas Law?

An airbag can be defective when a problem with its design or manufacturing prevents it from working safely. Some airbags fail to deploy during a crash. Others deploy unexpectedly or rupture and send dangerous fragments into the vehicle.

The problem does not always come from the airbag originally installed in the vehicle. Some vehicles receive replacement airbags after an earlier crash. If that replacement part is defective, it can create a new safety risk. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has even warned about substandard replacement airbags after linking certain replacement inflators to serious injuries and deaths.

Who Can Be Responsible for a Defective Airbag Injury in Texas?

Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 82.001, a product liability action includes claims against manufacturers or sellers for harm allegedly caused by a defective product. Responsibility for a defective airbag injury can fall on the company that made the vehicle or the airbag itself.

Who is responsible will depend on how the defective airbag ended up in the vehicle. If the original airbag was defective, the vehicle manufacturer or the company that made the airbag could face liability. If a dangerous replacement airbag was installed later, the claim should involve the company that manufactured or supplied that part.

A company that only sold the airbag is not automatically responsible for a defect it did not create. Texas law allows claims against nonmanufacturing sellers only in certain situations, such as when the seller changed the product or knew it was defective when it was sold.

What Do You Have to Prove in a Defective Airbag Claim in Texas?

To succeed with a defective airbag claim, you need evidence that the airbag was defective and that the defect caused or worsened your injuries. It is not enough to show that the airbag deployed during the crash or that you were injured while it was deploying.

The exact proof changes based on what went wrong with the airbag. For a design defect claim, Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 82.005 requires proof that a safer alternative design existed and that the defective design was a producing cause of the injury.

Airbag cases can also involve manufacturing defects or inadequate warnings. An investigation can examine the airbag itself, the vehicle’s repair history, and information about how the airbag performed during the crash.

What Should You Do After an Airbag Causes an Injury?

After an airbag causes an injury, taking steps to protect evidence can help establish what went wrong. Information from the vehicle can show how the airbag performed during the crash and whether a defect contributed to the injury.

After receiving necessary medical care, useful steps can include:

• Avoid repairing or disposing of the vehicle before the airbag can be inspected.
• Take photographs of the vehicle interior and the airbag, as well as any visible injuries.
• Keep repair records and documents showing whether an airbag was previously replaced.
• Check the vehicle identification number for open recalls through NHTSA and review the vehicle's history for any previous airbag replacement.

Do not attempt to remove or inspect a suspected defective airbag yourself. NHTSA warns that tampering with an airbag can cause it to deploy and result in serious injury.

How Long Do You Have to File a Defective Airbag Lawsuit in Texas?

Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003, a person has two years to file a personal injury lawsuit in Texas. However, product liability cases also have a separate deadline tied to the age of the product.

Texas law bars product liability actions more than 15 years after the defendant sold the product, although the law includes exceptions. Your attorney can help you understand which deadline applies to your situation.

Contact a Dallas County, TX Defective Vehicle Attorney

A defective airbag can lead to a serious injury outside of a regular car accident. Attorney Jerry D. Andrews is board-certified in personal injury trial law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and will help hold product manufacturers liable for a defective product.

The firm handles cases on a contingency basis, so you pay no fees or costs unless you win. For a free consultation, contact our Irving, TX defective auto parts lawyer at Jerry D. Andrews, P.C. or call 214-221-5800.

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