Modern airbags are designed to deploy in moderate to severe crashes when a seatbelt alone might not provide the protection necessary to keep vehicle occupants from hitting the steering wheel, dash, or other hard surfaces inside the car. This generally happens when traveling 8 to 28 miles per hour or higher, depending on what the car collides with.
If you were hurt in a crash, whether by the airbag or the collision itself, you may have legal options to seek compensation. You should discuss your next steps with an auto accident lawyer in Boca Raton to learn more. They can provide the best information and guidance about car accident injuries.
How Do Airbag Sensors Work?
Modern vehicles have several airbag sensors, and most have numerous airbags to protect occupants. Different types of airbags include driver, passenger, side-curtain, seat-mounted, door-mounted, and more. Some vehicles even have special airbags to protect your hips and knees. Each airbag type has a set of sensors and can be triggered by different events.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), frontal airbags usually deploy when a crash has forces equivalent to:
- Hitting a solid, fixed object at 8 to 14 miles per hour or higher
- Hitting a parked vehicle at 16 to 28 miles per hour or higher
When both vehicles are in motion and collide, it is difficult to give an accurate range. There are too many factors involved in calculating this number. A typical fender bender should not trigger your airbags, but a more serious accident could.
How Quickly Does an Airbag Deploy?
When an airbag sensor indicates a moderate or severe crash, it tells the airbag to deploy. This is done by an electronic signal to the airbag’s control unit. This control unit, in turn, activates the inflator inside the airbag module.
The inflator houses a chemical reaction that inflates the airbag in less than 1/20 of a second. Front and passenger airbags deflate almost as quickly. Some types of airbags remain inflated for longer. For example, side curtain airbags that aim to protect occupants in a side-impact or rollover crash might remain inflated.
Because of the incredible speed at which they work, airbags can hurt when they deploy. Usually, this is just a short-lived bruise, abrasion, or small laceration. However, more serious injuries are possible.
Airbag Injuries and Injury Prevention in a Moderate to Severe Crash
Common airbag injuries include:
- Facial injuries, such as cuts and scrapes or a broken nose
- Eye injuries
- Broken or sprained wrists
- Minor burns
- Chest and torso injuries, including broken ribs
When an airbag does not work properly or has a defect, the resulting injuries might be much more severe. You can also take numerous steps to reduce your risk of serious airbag injuries. These include:
- Sitting as far away from the steering wheel as possible
- Always wearing a seatbelt
- Putting all children under age 13 in the backseat
- Moving the passenger seat back as far as possible
- Holding your hands at 9 and 3 or 8 and 4 to reduce the risk of wrist injuries
What If My Airbags Did Not Deploy or Deployed in a Minor Crash?
Sometimes, airbags are defective or dangerous. They can cause more severe injuries because they fail to deploy, deploy when they should not, or have another problem with their operation.
If you have questions about how your airbags responded in a recent collision, mention it to your car accident lawyer. There could be a logical reason to explain what happened. However, a defective airbag may have hurt you.
Some defective airbags have caused serious injuries by sending shrapnel flying during deployment. Some victims hit by this shrapnel suffered catastrophic injuries, and several passed away. This is the basis of the Takata airbag safety recall, the largest safety recall in U.S. history.
Will My Car Accident Case Cover Treatment of My Airbag Injuries?
When you work with a Florida personal injury lawyer to pursue compensation based on serious car accident injuries, they will also document any airbag injuries you suffered and seek compensation for their treatment.
The same insurance policy paying for your accident injury treatment will generally cover airbag injuries. This could be your personal injury protection (PIP) coverage or another driver’s policy. They are treated the same as any other injury that occurred in the collision.
However, an airbag injury can occur when no other injuries occur in a crash. Your airbag injury lawyer in Panama City, FL may be able to show this occurred because of a defective airbag and not the collision. In this case, the airbag or vehicle manufacturer might be held accountable to pay for your treatment and other expenses.
What Should I Do If I Have Injuries Following a Car Crash With Airbags?
If you suffered serious injuries in a collision, you should speak to an auto accident law firm as soon as possible after your injuries are stable. They will assess your case for free. A personal injury attorney has the experience, knowledge, and resources necessary to determine what happened, the cause of your injuries, and who is liable.
Your lawyer will also know all applicable laws and can explain the next steps to take to recover fair compensation in your case. They may offer to represent you based on contingency, handling all aspects of your collision case for you without any upfront payment.
If your loved one died from their accident or airbag injuries, a wrongful death lawyer can help you pursue justice on their behalf. Each state has unique laws about how this process works. An attorney near you can explain your options and help you better understand what happened.
Discuss Your Car Collision With Our Team For Free Today
Ged Lawyers provides free consultations for crash victims. Reach out today for a free case assessment and learn how a car accident lawyer from our team can help you.
Contact us today to get started.
