Faulty airbags have triggered one of the largest automotive recalls in recent years, and Citroën models are among the vehicles affected. As more clients come forward reporting airbag explosions, shrapnel injuries, burns, hearing loss and psychological trauma, claimant firms are preparing for a significant rise in Citroën airbag recall injury claims.
But how do the legal costs work in these product liability cases?
Are they fixed?
Do they fall within the fast track?
And what should solicitors expect when preparing a Bill of Costs or negotiating with the manufacturer’s insurers?
Below, we break down everything PI departments need to know – and how DMD Costs can help maximise recovery.
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No. These claims do not fall under Fixed Recoverable Costs (FRC).
Citroën airbag claims are classed as product liability personal injury claims, which were specifically excluded from the October 2023 FRC reforms. Even where injuries appear minor at first glance, the liability investigations, engineering evidence, and consumer protection issues push these cases firmly into standard costs.
Why they are not fixed costs:
• Product liability = not within FRC
• Engineering expert evidence required
• Multiple potential defendants (manufacturer, distributor, dealer)
• Complex causation arguments
• Injuries often exceed small claims threshold
• Courts frequently allocate to multi-track if injuries or defect issues are substantial
For solicitors, this means one thing:
These claims allow full hourly-rate costs recovery when handled properly.
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Airbags deploying with excessive force or exploding due to defective inflators can cause:
• Facial cuts and eye injuries
• Burns from hot gas or chemicals
• Hearing loss or tinnitus
• Dental damage
• Broken bones (arm, wrist, nose)
• Psychological injury, shock and driving phobia
Most of these injuries place the claim well within fast track or low multi-track, but crucially still outside the fixed costs regime, allowing proper costs recovery for the solicitor’s work.
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Product liability claims like the Citroën airbag recall typically require work that is not found in standard PI claims:
An automotive engineer will need to examine:
• Whether the inflator failed
• If shrapnel or debris was expelled
• Whether deployment was consistent with crash data
These reports are recoverable disbursements and often essential for settlement.
Manufacturers and their insurers often:
• Deny defect
• Blame maintenance
• Require detailed crash data
• Request OEM part confirmation
This leads to longer correspondence and higher recoverable costs.
Depending on injuries, experts may include:
• Orthopaedic
• Plastic surgery / scarring
• ENT (for hearing loss)
• Psychology / psychiatry
Each report increases the value of the claim and the costs.
Was the airbag defective?
Would injuries have occurred anyway?
Was deployment justified?
These issues often create:
• Further evidence
• Additional conferences
• Higher negotiation time
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To ensure full recovery of hourly-rate costs, firms should:
• Keep liability investigations detailed and documented
Manufacturers routinely deny fault; your file needs clear evidence of defect and causation.
• Instruct strong engineering experts early
These are the backbone of any product liability PI case.
• Record work clearly for each track stage
Defendant representatives will challenge time spent on liability, causation, and expert liaison.
• Ensure proportionality arguments are pre-empted
Product liability claims justify greater complexity and cost than standard RTA/EL/PL PI.
• Use specialist costs support from the start
DMD Costs routinely drafts Bills in product liability matters and negotiates strong settlements.
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Damages in Citroën airbag claims can range from:
• £2,000 – £7,500 for minor cuts/burns
• £7,500 – £15,000 for scarring or tinnitus
• £15,000+ where fractures or psychological trauma is significant
Costs recovery typically includes:
• Hourly-rate profit costs
• Expert engineering fees
• Medical expert fees
• Rehabilitation costs
• Court fees
• Counsel fees (if required)
These are fully recoverable under standard basis assessment, subject to reasonableness and proportionality.
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The recall affects hundreds of thousands of vehicles across Europe. As public awareness increases, more claimants are contacting solicitors after:
• Airbag explosions during low-speed impacts
• Debris/shrapnel injuries
• Unexpected deployment
• Failure to deploy at all
• Dashboard or sensor malfunctions
This is becoming a high-potential standard PI niche, similar to how diesel emissions and NIHL claims began.
For PI firms, this represents a lucrative opportunity – and with the right costs partner, it becomes far more profitable.
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At DMD Costs, we assist solicitors handling Citroën airbag recall claims by providing:
• Bill drafting for standard basis recovery
• Points of Reply / Points of Dispute support
• Negotiation to settlement
• Clear advice on proportionality and case strategy
• Full management from Part 36 to detailed assessment
We operate quickly, accurately, and with the experience of a costs lawyer who has been negotiating complex PI and product liability cases for decades.
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If your firm is taking on Citroën airbag recall claims or any defective vehicle injury cases, we can maximise your recoverable costs and reduce your workload.
📩 Send files or enquiries to: info@dmdcosts.co.uk
📞 Call: +44 7724 108587
💼 Partner with a team that gets you paid what you’re owed.
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