Airbags can hurt when they deploy. They often cause abrasions, contusions, and other injuries. This is a normal consequence of how they work and how quickly they inflate. The injuries caused by a deploying airbag are generally minor. Since airbags save lives, they are worth the risk of cuts, bruises, or even broken bones.
Whether your lacerations, bruises, or fractures occurred as a direct result of a collision or from airbag deployment, a Boca Raton car accident lawyer at our firm can ensure you understand your legal options. They will handle your case from start to finish. We provide free initial case consultations.
What Are Some Common Types of Airbag Injuries?
When airbags deploy correctly, and the vehicle occupant is wearing a seatbelt, they usually only cause minor pain and superficial injuries. However, an airbag deployment is an explosion. An airbag deploys at speeds up to 200 miles per hour, according to an airbag warning for adults from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Injuries are likely in an explosion of this magnitude, especially when a human body is so close to the airbag.
Airbag deployments can cause a wide range of injuries depending on the specific details of the collision. These injuries can vary based on the circumstances of a crash. For instance, having an airbag deploy unnecessarily can cause different injuries than one that deploys during a high-speed crash.
Debris also plays a factor, causing injury when the airbag deploys and pushes items toward you. Other variables include:
- A person’s size (injuries are more common with shorter drivers)
- A person’s distance from the airbag
- Front vs. side airbags
- Type of car
- Defective airbags
- Whether or not the person was properly restrained
The following are some of the most common airbag injuries people experience.
Bruises and Soft Tissue Injuries
Car accidents involve a lot of energy that must go somewhere. Your seatbelt and the airbag diffuse much of the force, but you might still suffer contusions and soft tissue injuries when your momentum halts. These are often very painful; some sprains and strains even require surgery.
Fractures
The incredible speed and force of an airbag can break bones in your:
- Face
- Wrists
- Fingers
- Hands
- Arms
- Ribs
Hairline fractures take time to heal, while more complicated breaks may require surgery.
Burns and Irritation
Injuries in this category include:
- Burns from an exploded bag
- Chemical burns
- Lung and throat irritation
- Eye irritation
Defective airbags can sometimes explode or cause exposure to dangerous chemicals, which can cause burns. A Boca Raton burn injury lawyer can assist with gathering evidence of defects.
Even airbags that are in perfect working order can cause harmful reactions due to gasses and chemicals. For example, these irritants could trigger an asthma attack in some people.
Head Injuries
Airbags cushion your head and face when propelled forward in a crash. However, if they fail to deploy, deploy too late, or deploy incorrectly, that cushion can’t do its job. Thus, you strike your head on an airbag that hasn’t fully inflated or a steering wheel or dashboard.
The most severe airbag head injury is a traumatic brain injury (TBI), resulting in symptoms such as lost memory, difficulty multitasking, and loss of consciousness. TBIs are expensive and require considerable time to treat. Therefore, they could be the basis for a significant car accident injury claim.
Chest and Internal Injuries
Airbags should also cushion the chest from impact with the steering wheel or other car surfaces. Failures cause you to take some of the collision’s force in your torso, injuring the heart, lungs, or other internal organs. The force of a properly functioning airbag’s explosion can also lead to chest and internal injuries. Given that treatment can include hospitalizations, surgery, and rehabilitation, with possible lifelong complications, a personal injury lawyer could help you seek damages for chest and internal injuries.
When an airbag is defective, it is much more likely to cause serious injuries. In the most well-known cases, metal fragments fly from the airbag during deployment and can strike vehicle occupants. This was the basis of the Takata airbag safety recall. People suffered catastrophic and deadly injuries from these dangerous airbags.
Why Do Airbags Cause Injuries?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states airbags deploy in less than 1/20th of a second, using incredible force to quickly provide protection. That force becomes dangerous when combined with the following:
- Design flaws
- Manufacturing mistakes
- Errors with deployment sensors
- Improper installation
- Counterfeit or recycled airbags
For example, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) points out that counterfeit airbags can fail to deploy or release shrapnel upon deployment. Issues with the sensors that detect crashes and determine the severity can cause incorrect or deployment failures. Design and manufacturing errors can affect how an airbag works.
Who Is Responsible for Your Airbag Injury?
Because airbag flaws can occur at any step in designing and constructing a vehicle, you might need to trace the vehicle’s history after an airbag injury. You might find that one choice early in the manufacturing process affected your car’s safety or that several parties acted negligently at several stages.
Possible liable parties include:
- Product designers
- Airbag manufacturers
- Car manufacturers
- Dealerships
- Used car sellers
- Auto repair shops
Investigating these parties and determining if they made a mistake or should have known about one shouldn’t be your job after suffering an injury from an airbag. Instead, you can talk to a Boca Raton product liability lawyer. They will investigate your vehicle, the type of airbag, the accident circumstances, and any known recalls or defects with your car.
If you were injured by a properly functioning airbag during an accident, you may be able to hold the at-fault driver liable for your injuries.
How Can I Reduce the Pain and Injury Caused When an Airbag Deploys?
Airbags can cause bruising and injuries when they deploy, but this is an acceptable risk because they are generally highly effective at preventing more serious injuries. However, there are still steps you can take to reduce your risk of airbag injuries in a crash. These include:
- Always wearing a seat belt. Airbags work best in conjunction with seat belts. The seat belt ensures you remain in your seat and allows the airbags to cushion any movements your body makes toward the window, door, steering wheel, dashboard, or other objects.
- Sitting as far from the airbag as possible. You are more likely to suffer injuries if you are closer to the airbag when it deploys. If you can drive safely with your seat further back, you should do this. Also, move the passenger side front seat back whenever possible.
- Always putting children under age 13 in the back seat. Airbags can be especially dangerous for those with small, growing bodies. Ensure your children always use their seat belts properly or are in the proper car seat or booster for their height and weight.
What Damages Are Available for Airbag Injuries?
You can file an insurance claim or product liability lawsuit against the responsible party to recover compensation for any financial and personal losses related to your airbag accident. Determining adequate compensation for you depends on your injuries, but your legal team can work to recover funds for:
- Hospital bills (e.g., imaging tests, bloodwork, surgeries, and overnight stays)
- Follow-up care (e.g., physical therapy, check-ups, prescriptions, and equipment)
- Emotional and mental health support (e.g., counseling or medications)
- Lost income during your recovery
- Reduced earning capacity due to long-term injuries
- Vocational help to transfer to a new job
- Pain and suffering, emotional distress, and reduced enjoyment of life
Getting the compensation you deserve may be difficult. Because airbag injuries often occur during car accidents, product manufacturers or car companies may pin all your injuries on the crash rather than their defective airbag. An attorney can combat these attempts.
How Can I Recover Compensation for My Airbag Injuries After a Crash?
In general, insurance covers airbag injuries in an auto accident case. Whether you file a personal injury protection (PIP) no-fault claim or pursue a negligence-based case against the at-fault driver, it should include the minor or moderate injuries caused by a deploying airbag.
There might be some circumstances where the airbag did not act as expected. It might have caused more serious injuries, deployed at the wrong time, or failed to deploy. Any of these could signal a dangerous or faulty airbag. This situation may support a claim or lawsuit against the car or part manufacturer.
What Should I Do if I Suffered Serious Injuries in a Crash With Airbag Deployment?
A Boca Raton personal injury lawyer will be your best resource to assess your legal options and determine what route you should take to recover fair compensation for your injuries. The legal process could include:
- Filing a no-fault claim if you live in a state that requires this coverage
- Seeking a settlement from the at-fault driver’s insurance carrier
- Suing the responsible party
- Pursuing a case against the vehicle or airbag manufacturer
In Florida, you have two years to file a lawsuit against the liable party, per Florida Statutes § 95.11(4)(a). However, getting started quickly after an accident is always a good idea.
When your personal injury attorney starts investigating a crash quickly, they can often uncover evidence that may not be available later. This could significantly affect the outcome of some cases. For this reason, we recommend all crash victims with serious injuries speak to a car accident attorney as soon as possible.
If your loved one passed away from their injuries, please accept our sincere condolences. A Boca Raton wrongful death lawyer can handle your case, determine your options, and explain how these cases work based on the applicable laws.
Discuss Your Car Accident Airbag Injury Case With Our Team for Free
GED Lawyers provides free consultations for victims hurt in a crash, especially if the airbags deployed. We want to speak to you about your next steps and how we will fight for the money you need and deserve. Contact us today to get started with your complimentary case assessment.
