Common Airbag Injuries in Car Accidents

Advancements in safety features such as airbags are helping to reduce the fatality rate of car accidents. Despite the progress, airbags are not completely harmless and sometimes cause more damage than they prevent.

The Marietta car accident attorneys at The Champion Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.C., can pursue the compensation you rightfully deserve after an airbag injury. Contact us today by phone or online to schedule a free consultation.

What Causes Airbag Deployment?

“Vehicle speed and damage are not good indicators of whether an airbag will be deployed,” the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports.

Despite common misconceptions, airbags are deployed primarily when a car’s sensors perceive rapid deceleration. These sensors can malfunction. As a result, there are accidents in which an airbag should have deployed, as well as non-accidents in which an airbag deployment causes injury to car occupants. The car or airbag’s manufacturer could be liable in a products liability suit when an airbag malfunctions.

Even when an airbag performs as it should, the deployment can result in serious injuries. If someone else was at fault for the crash, they could be liable for injuries caused by an airbag.

Causes of Airbag Injuries

Some of the primary causes of airbag injuries include:

• Non-deployment – When an airbag does not deploy when it should have, serious injuries can result. Airbag non-deployment can occur from a malfunctioning sensor, a flawed bag, or other circumstances.
• Inflation issues – After rapid deceleration caused by a collision, an airbag inflates rapidly to prevent occupants from violently colliding with the inside of the car. Immediately after, the airbag deflates slightly to an optimal level of protection. If the airbag inflates incorrectly for the circumstances, injuries can result.
• Chemical injuries – If there are problems with the inflation mechanism, the chemical materials used to rapidly heat and inflate the airbag can cause burns or other injuries. These injuries are not as common, but they can be equally severe
• Debris – Some defective airbags have ejected bits of metal that hit car occupants with incredible force, similar to shrapnel from an exploding hand grenade.

If your airbag did not behave as it should have, you may be able to hold the airbag or car manufacturer financially responsible for your injuries.

Common Injuries Caused by Airbags

Some injuries that may result from airbags include:

• Burns on arms and hands
• Concussions
• Cuts to the upper body and torso
• Internal bleeding
• Sprained fingers and wrists
• Cranial swelling and bruising
• Hearing loss

Tragically, some people – especially children – can even be killed as a result of airbag injuries.

Airbag Injury Claims

The Marietta injury attorneys at The Champion Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.C. have experience helping people who have been hurt by airbags. Whether you were injured by faulty deployment, the chemicals used to inflate the airbag, or another reason, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and expenses.

Several parties could potentially be liable for your airbag injuries, including the car manufacturer or the airbag equipment manufacturer. If injuries resulted from an airbag that actually performed properly, the driver at fault for the crash could be held liable.

How Can The Champion Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.C. Help Me?

Every person on the road deserves to feel safe. In the event of a car crash, we should be able to rely on safety features designed to protect us, not cause us harm.

The >Marietta personal injury lawyers of The Champion Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.C. are prepared to fight for your right to compensation if you were hurt by an airbag. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.