Chevrolet Impala Airbag Lawsuit Filed Over Fatal Injuries in Crash

General Motors faces a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of a New Mexico woman who died in a 2010 car crash, alleging that the airbag in a Chevrolet Impala failed to deploy. 

The complaint (PDF) was filed by the family of Shonnie Bryan in Texas state court, but was removed to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas on January 7. The lawsuit names General Motors (GM), Watson Chevrolet Buick Pontiac, Scott Watson Chevrolet Buick Pontiac and Watson Truck & Supply Inc. as defendants.

According to allegations raised in the airbag lawsuit, Bryan was driving a 2003 Chevrolet Impala on November 26, 2010, when she lost control of the vehicle. The car swerved off the road and crashed into a culvert.

Did You Know?

Millions of Philips CPAP Machines Recalled

Philips DreamStation, CPAP and BiPAP machines sold in recent years may pose a risk of cancer, lung damage and other injuries.

Learn More

The Chevrolet Impala airbag failed to deploy in the accident, allegedly causing Bryan to suffer fatal injuries in the crash. Three children, including two teenage girls and a 7-year-old girl, were also injured in the crash but survived.

The family indicates that the defendants negligently designed and marketed a defective vehicle, and accuses the dealership of selling her a defective vehicle.

According to local media reports following the accident, authorities indicated that Bryan was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.

The wrongful death lawsuit seeks compensatory damages, interest and court costs.

Image Credit: |

5 Comments

  • JelissaJuly 19, 2019 at 8:00 pm

    I had a 2006 Chevy impala I had a accident because I fell asleep behind the wheel while driving with my two children. My car rolled over 3 times. My airbag didn’t deploy and my head hit the windshield leaving me with a lot of scars to my face. My 6 year old daughter was ejected from the vechile and she was buckled in her booster seat. My accident happened in August 2011

  • TrayOctober 6, 2014 at 11:14 am

    I was involved in a car accident in a 2000 Chevy impala. We were struck in the drivers front and slammed into a land wall. If you can think of a curvy dirt road and a truck speeding loosing control and hitting us slamming the passenger front into the land of about 4 ft high . that's what happened. No air bags went off I am still suffering injuries to this day.

  • KaTrena SJune 1, 2013 at 6:11 am

    I'm sorry I failed to mention the date of my daughter's accident was 5/21/2013 at 4:05 p.m. In front of a school while children were getting out of school.

  • KaTrena SJune 1, 2013 at 6:06 am

    I bought my daughter a 2000 Impala for her 16th B-Day (5-16-2013). Since she had her permit she would now be allowed to drive herself to work or school "legally and safely", I THOUGHT!!! On her way to have the title transferred and registered A Speeding Unlicensed Driver Hit her on the passenger side front door. He hit her going at least 50mph on a 25mph street, her car went airborne spinning in [Show More]I bought my daughter a 2000 Impala for her 16th B-Day (5-16-2013). Since she had her permit she would now be allowed to drive herself to work or school "legally and safely", I THOUGHT!!! On her way to have the title transferred and registered A Speeding Unlicensed Driver Hit her on the passenger side front door. He hit her going at least 50mph on a 25mph street, her car went airborne spinning in the air and smacked into a 4ft wall/ramp the car then shot up the wall and teetered on the edge!!! THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY! What the HE** CHEVY???!!!! Can anybody say CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT?!

  • ChaseFebruary 23, 2013 at 10:14 am

    I was in an accident just yesterday. 2000 Chevy impala. Guess what!?!? Air bags didnt deploy, my seatbelt? No tension. I hit a bridge guard rail at 40mph, at an angle, passenger side headlight took the trauma hit. Why didnt the air bags go off though? I mean the impact was kinda rough. I don't think the rain slick road could cause the bags to not deploy but it sure can cause BRAKES to lock.

Share Your Comments

I authorize the above comments be posted on this page*

Want your comments reviewed by a lawyer?

To have an attorney review your comments and contact you about a potential case, provide your contact information below. This will not be published.

NOTE: Providing information for review by an attorney does not form an attorney-client relationship.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

More Top Stories