There is no law preventing you from driving your car after airbags deploy, but this is not advisable. It is important for your safety to have your car checked for damage and your airbags replaced by an authorized service technician before driving the vehicle.
Some people try to drive their cars without replacing the airbags after a deployment to save money. However, this could cost you a lot more in the long run if you have another crash. You might have options for recovering damages from the at-fault driver under some circumstances. A Boca Raton car accident lawyer can provide a free assessment.
What Do You Need to Know About Driving Your Car After Airbag Deployment?
While it may be legal to drive a car without replacing the airbags, it is not recommended. Repairing your vehicle—including all safety features—is the best way to ensure you and others in your car are protected if another collision occurs.
If you must drive your vehicle immediately after a collision, take precautions. Sometimes, it is necessary to drive your car home after a crash or move it to another location. If this occurs, you should take a few steps to protect yourself. These include:
- Ensure no part of the deployed airbag is blocking your vision or movement
- Cut away the material from the airbag and remove the affected parts before driving
- Drive slowly and cautiously to your destination
- Have someone follow you in case additional concerns occur
- Go only as far as necessary
As soon as possible, you should have a knowledgeable body shop and mechanic ensure it is safe and there are no major concerns. For repairs, only trust an authorized service technician who replaces airbags frequently.
What If You Cannot Afford to Replace Your Airbag After Deployment?
Many people believe they cannot afford an airbag replacement following a crash. There are many reasons why they might believe this, including:
- They do not think their insurance covers airbag replacement
- They believe a deployed airbag automatically totals your car
- They believe the cost is simply too much
When crash victims believe these myths, they may seek an alternative to replacing their deployed airbag. This could include driving without one, getting a fake airbag, or handling the repair on their own. None of these are good options.
Under Florida law, it is illegal for anyone to make, sell, or install fake or “junk-filled” airbags. In addition, Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FHSMV) warns against disabling airbags or asking others to do so for you.
Sometimes, the sensors suffer damage and require replacement or recalibration. This is another reason why this type of repair must be handled by an authorized service tech. Airbags save lives, but only when they operate properly and are used in conjunction with seatbelts and other safety devices.
Which Insurance Policy Replaces Your Airbags After a Crash?
While Florida law requires drivers to carry personal injury protection (PIP) no-fault insurance to cover minor and moderate injuries, the no-fault laws do not apply to property damage. Instead, the at-fault driver’s insurance policy should cover your car repairs.
This should include:
- Repairs to your vehicle
- Towing and storage of the car within limits
- A rental car during repairs
- Fees associated with replacing your vehicle, if necessary
It is important to note that you can also file a claim with your own insurance carrier if you have collision coverage on your vehicle. This allows you to negotiate with your own insurer to pay for your repairs. They will then seek reimbursement from the at-fault driver’s insurer through a process known as subrogation.
If you file a claim based on your collision coverage, you will likely need to pay a deductible. However, if the insurance carrier wins their case against the other insurer, you may be reimbursed for this expense.
What Happens If Your Car Is Totaled?
Sometimes, especially when multiple airbags are deployed, the cost of replacing the airbags could cause the repair cost of the vehicle to rise above its value. When this occurs, the insurance company will likely “total” the car.
This means they will offer a payment for the vehicle instead of paying to make the repairs. It is important you know the value of your car and what it will take to replace it during these negotiations if you are not working with a lawyer.
What Should You Do After an Accident When the Airbags Deploy?
Our lawyers help clients recover money for car crashes, truck accidents, airbag injuries, and more. If you were hurt or lost a loved one in a crash or airbag injury incident, we are here to help. We recommend contacting an attorney to review your legal options if you suffered injuries in your crash.
It may be possible to get your car repaired and other costs covered by suing the at-fault driver or taking other actions to secure a payout based on your expenses and losses. This could allow you to get the money you need to repair your car, including replacing your airbag properly.
You generally have up to two years to sue based on car accident injuries in Florida. Other states have their own deadlines, usually one to three years. Missing this deadline could prevent you from recovering the money you need to pay your related expenses and cover your losses.
Discuss Your Airbag Deployment Accident With Our Team for Free
Ged Lawyers provides free consultations to crash victims in our service area. If you were in a collision and the airbags deployed, our team will assess your case with you today for free. You may have a legal option that covers airbag replacement costs instead of driving a car after the airbags deploy.
Contact us now to discuss your next steps with our team for free.
