Go to Main Content

Advertisement

By George Iny on October 24, 2018
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

I was injured because airbags didn’t open. What recourse do I have?

By George Iny on October 24, 2018
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

You can report faulty vehicle design

Advertisement

(Pexels)

Q. I was involved in a car accident. The four airbags on my 2007 Mazda 3 didn’t open when it rolled over and I suffered a concussion and other injuries. Is that normal? Or were the airbags faulty? And who should I report this to? —Branko M. A: Side airbag technology has changed significantly over the years. Early generation side bags were designed strictly for side impacts and the systems in many vehicles did not have the ability to detect rollovers. A vehicle that is 10 years old, like your Mazda, likely did not have rollover detection, so a more or less direct side impact may have been required to trigger the side airbags, which would have been normal. The side airbags in today’s new trucks and sport utility vehicles are triggered when a rollover is detected; I believe most passenger cars do as well. A rollover has become a less frequent event in the last decade; while the potential for injury is still significant, it is much less than before thanks to head-protecting side curtain airbags, stronger roof structures that are much less likely to collapse, and electronic stability control (ESC), which helps keep a vehicle pointed in the correct direction when it starts to veer off course. When you suffer injuries in a collision that you believe may be attributable to faulty vehicle design or operation it is important to report the event to Transport Canada (1-800-333-0510). Ideally, you should have images of the vehicle and accident site as well as information about the accident location and other vehicles involved. Most of the necessary information will be contained in the police report. While many professionals get involved after a serious accident with injuries—first responders, insurance claims adjusters, health care and rehab providers—none of them is focused on reporting a possible vehicle defect to the appropriate authority, so this aspect of an accident may be overlooked. Everyone else assumes the police do it, but that is not always the case.

MORE ABOUT ASK INY:

Comments Cancel reply

Related Articles

A car steering wheel and a bowl of pasta, as symbols of how to get the best auto loan interest rate.

Car loan interest rates: What’s the best Canadians can get?

Car loan interest rates can be as confusing as a complicated recipe, and just as daunting to navigate. This...

Car loan interest rates: What’s the best Canadians can get?

Newcomer to Canada buying their first car at the dealership asking questions of the sales person about getting a car loan.

Newcomers to Canada

Auto loans for newcomers—questions to ask when buying your first car in Canada

Buying your first car in Canada is like any other major purchase. Ask a lot of questions, not just...

Auto loans for newcomers—questions to ask when buying your first car in Canada

A woman pumps gas into her sedan

What is the Canada Carbon Rebate? Plus, dates and amounts for 2025 rebates

The Canadian government is sending out its first carbon rebate of 2025. See who’s eligible and how much you...

What is the Canada Carbon Rebate? Plus, dates and amounts for 2025 rebates

A Canadian woman at home, looking at her loan options online, including secured vs unsecured loans.

Secured loans vs. unsecured personal loans: Which should Canadians get?

Before taking out a loan, learn the differences between these two types, which has better interest rates, and which...

Secured loans vs. unsecured personal loans: Which should Canadians get?

A car parked at an EV charging station

Fewer Canadian drivers planning to buy an EV or hybrid

A new EY survey has found that demand for EVs and hybrid vehicles has dropped slightly, with drivers citing...

Fewer Canadian drivers planning to buy an EV or hybrid

A Canadian buying a car and getting approved for a personal loan.

How to buy a car in Canada and get the best loan rate

Buying a car is a big deal. Understand the financial part of the purchase and, hopefully, save yourself some...

How to buy a car in Canada and get the best loan rate

Canadian man shopping with a friend for a major purchase (stove) and wondering which is better: personal loan vs. line of credit?

Personal loan versus line of credit: Which should you choose?

Need the best interest rate? Want fixed payments or flexibility? Find out the differences between personal loans and lines...

Personal loan versus line of credit: Which should you choose?

Should you buy or lease your new car in Canada?

Looking for a new car? What you should know about leasing versus owning.

Should you buy or lease your new car in Canada?

Pickup trucks lined up in a dealership lot

Driving underwater: Is your car worth less than what you’re paying for it?

Canadians who financed or leased their new vehicles in the last two years could be paying more in loans...

Driving underwater: Is your car worth less than what you’re paying for it?

The best credit cards in Canada with free roadside assistance for 2025

Roadside assistance is something you never think about—until you need it. Having one of these credit cards will ensure...

The best credit cards in Canada with free roadside assistance for 2025