Car Accident Airbag Injury Lawyers

Car Accident Airbag Injury Lawyers: What You Need to Know

Airbags are designed to protect you in severe car accidents by absorbing impact and reducing the risk of serious injury. But what if the airbag itself causes harm? Injuries from airbags can range from minor bruises to severe trauma. If an airbag deployment has hurt you, can you seek compensation? And who would be responsible if you decide to file a lawsuit?

These questions are common among people injured by airbags during car crashes. Understanding your rights and legal options is crucial to getting the compensation you deserve.

Why Are Car Airbags the Most Important Safety Feature?

When airbags deploy during an accident, they reduce the risk of fatal injuries by about 23%. This reduction underscores the importance of airbags in improving survival rates in crashes.

Injured by a Car Airbag? Get Legal Help Now

If you or a loved one suffered injuries caused by a car airbag, it’s critical to consult a car accident attorney as soon as possible. An experienced attorney can help you understand your rights and the compensation you may be entitled to after your injury. Don’t wait—get a free, no-risk consultation today to explore your options.

Why Hire a Car Accident Attorney in Los Angeles?

Hiring a knowledgeable Los Angeles car accident attorney is key to assessing the full value of your claim. Airbag-related injuries can range from minor to severe, and determining appropriate compensation requires legal expertise. Our attorneys will investigate your case thoroughly to identify who is responsible for your injuries and ensure you pursue fair compensation.

Why Do We Have Airbags in Cars?

Airbags were introduced in the late 1990s to reduce injuries during car crashes. When a vehicle experiences a sudden impact, the driver may be thrown forward and hit the dashboard or steering wheel. Airbags deploy to cushion this blow, keeping the driver in place and reducing contact with hard surfaces inside the car.

How Do Airbags Work?

An airbag inflates instantly in a significant collision, creating a protective barrier between the driver and the vehicle interior. This rapid deployment helps absorb the crash’s impact. However, airbags typically do not deploy in low-impact collisions because the sensors detect that the effect isn’t severe enough to trigger deployment.

Are Airbags Completely Safe?

While airbags greatly improve safety and reduce fatalities, they are not without risks. In rare cases, the force of airbag deployment can cause serious injuries to the driver or passengers. Still, these incidents are uncommon compared to the number of lives airbags save each year.

How Does an Airbag Deploy? Understanding the Safety Mechanism

Many people don’t know how an airbag works until they’re in a car accident. Airbags are safety devices installed in vehicles to protect occupants during collisions. Typically, you’ll find one airbag in the driver’s steering wheel and another horizontal one near the dashboard on the passenger side. The size and placement of airbags can vary by vehicle model and manufacturer.

How Does the Airbag Deployment Process Work?

Airbags deploy in a precise, rapid sequence triggered by crash sensors in the vehicle. When a collision occurs, the crash sensor detects the sudden impact and sends an alert to the airbag system. This signal triggers a chemical reaction within the airbag module, rapidly generating gas that inflates the airbag.

Within milliseconds, the airbag deploys from the steering wheel or dashboard, inflating to cushion the driver or passenger. The inflation lasts only a few seconds before the airbag deflates through small vents, preventing suffocation and allowing the occupant to move freely after the impact.

What Happens After an Airbag Deploys?

After deployment, you may notice dust or a powdery residue in the vehicle’s interior. This is normal and results from the chemicals used to inflate the airbag. Although the dust may irritate, it is generally harmless.

How Does a Car Airbag Injury Occur?

Car airbag injuries happen in several ways, often linked to the airbag’s deployment or failure to deploy properly. Understanding these scenarios can help you recognise the risks and know when to seek medical attention.

Common Causes of Car Airbag Injuries:

• Faulty Airbag Deployment: Sometimes, an airbag can deploy unexpectedly while you’re driving, even without an accident. This sudden deployment can cause injuries due to the force and speed of the airbag inflating.
• Deployment in Minor Accidents: Airbags are designed to deploy in moderate to severe crashes. However, in some minor collisions, airbags may still deploy, potentially causing injuries that would not have occurred otherwise.
• Failure to Deploy in Severe Accidents: If an airbag fails to deploy in a serious crash, occupants may sustain greater injuries, particularly to the head and chest.
• Delayed or Malfunctioning Deployment: In rare cases, airbags may deploy after the accident, causing unexpected injuries when occupants believe the danger has passed.

Common Airbag Injuries: What You Need to Know

Airbags save lives, but their deployment can cause a range of injuries. The type and severity of these injuries depend on the nature of the accident, how the airbag deployed, and the timing.

Most Frequent Airbag Injuries

• Back injuries are the most common result of airbag deployment, often caused by the force and sudden movement during a crash.
• Cuts and abrasions frequently occur on the upper body, especially the face, chest, and shoulders, due to rapid airbag inflation.
• Internal bleeding can occur when organs sustain impact from the intense pressure of an airbag deployment.
• Hearing loss or persistent ringing in the ears may result from the loud noise of the airbag inflating.
• Bone fractures typically affect the rib cage, wrists, and sometimes the skull, caused by the strong impact.
• Eye injuries happen when airbag chemicals come into contact with the eyes.
• Concussions can occur due to the head’s forceful contact with the airbag.
• Lung irritation is especially harmful to people with pre-existing conditions such as asthma.
• Burns may result from the heat generated by the airbag fabric during deployment.

What should I do after an airbag injury?

After a car accident, the airbags mustn’t be tampered with or discarded. This will be an integral part of the trial or settlement negotiations when determining the airbag injury. For more information on what to do after a car accident, don’t hesitate to get in touch with one of our attorneys.

How to Prevent Airbag Injuries: Practical Safety Tips

Airbags save lives, but they can also cause injuries, especially if you’re too close or not properly restrained. While you can’t completely prevent an airbag from causing injury, there are clear steps you can take to reduce the risk of serious harm during a crash.

Key Safety Precautions to Avoid Airbag Injuries

• Never place children in the front passenger seat. Kids should always ride in the back seat, secured in a proper child safety seat. Front airbags can be dangerous to children.
• Always wear your seatbelt. Seatbelts work with airbags to protect you. They help position your body correctly so the airbag deploys as intended.
• Ensure everyone in the vehicle is buckled up. If you’re driving, make sure all passengers are properly restrained before you start.
• Maintain a safe distance from the airbag. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends keeping at least 10 inches between your chest and the airbag module in the steering wheel or dashboard. Sitting too close can increase injury severity, while sitting too far may reduce airbag effectiveness.
• Hold the steering wheel with both hands at the 9 and 3 o’clock positions. This grip helps you maintain control and reduces the risk of arm injury during deployment.
• Stay alert and aware of your surroundings. Defensive driving can prevent accidents, reducing the likelihood that airbags will deploy.

Who Can Be Sued in a Car Airbag Injury Lawsuit?

When an airbag causes injury due to a defect, the likely defendant in your lawsuit is the airbag manufacturer. Your car accident attorney will file a personal injury claim targeting this party, aiming to hold them responsible for the faulty product.

How Does the Legal Process Work?

In this type of claim, your lawyer must prove two key points:

1. There was a defect in the airbag at the time it deployed.
2. The defect directly caused your injuries during the accident.

To establish this, the airbag and its components must remain untouched after the crash. Any tampering can compromise evidence and weaken your case.

Who Inspects the Airbag?

Both legal experts and technical specialists will examine the airbag and the crash sensor. Their goal is to identify any manufacturing or design flaws that led to the injury; they used the airbag and the crash sensor to determine whether there was a defect.

Frequently Asked Questions