10 Most Common Airbag Injuries

Airbags are typically located within the steering wheel of a vehicle as well as in the dashboard in front of the passenger’s seat. Some vehicles also have side airbags as well.

Airbags are made of light fabric and are connected to a crash sensor. When the sensor detects a collision, it triggers an igniter that fills the airbag with gas. The airbag will expand and deploy in approximately 1/20 of a second and with a reasonable amount of force.

The gas-filled airbag is supposed to cushion the impact of the accident so if you are thrown forward, you hit the bag instead of the hard surfaces of the vehicle. Unfortunately, things can go wrong and airbag injuries can sometimes occur.

Airbag injuries have many potential causes including the following:

• An airbag sensor can malfunction, causing the airbag not to deploy or to deploy at the wrong time
• Gasses released by the airbag can cause or worsen respiratory issues
• The deployment of the airbag can cause severe eye injury
• Shrapnel from the propellant canister can fly out of the airbag and strike vehicle occupants

Unfortunately, tens of millions of airbags had to be recalled in recent years when long-term exposure to heat and humidity caused them to explode during deployment. These airbags were manufactured by Takata and used by 19 different automakers. More than 400 injuries and nearly 30 deaths occurred, resulting in numerous lawsuits by airbag injury victims.

Although injuries from malfunctioning airbags tend to be the most serious, airbags can cause damage even when they work properly. The 10 most common airbag injuries include:

1. Facial injuries including bruising and fractures to the small bone due to the impact of the airbag
2. Chest injuries including heart injuries due to the impact of the airbag against the chest
3. Burns on the chest, hands, arms, or face when the fabric of the airbag moves along the skin
4. Fractures including to the skull, ribs, and wrist bones
5. Traumatic brain injuries
6. Eye injuries from chemical irritation or from the pressure of the airbag
7. Ear trauma, including hearing loss
8. Internal bleeding if organs are damaged by airbag deployment
9. Asthma attacks and other respiratory issues due to the chemicals involved in deployment
10. Injury to the fetus in pregnant women

These injuries are more likely to occur, and to be severe, if the vehicle occupants were not wearing a seatbelt when the airbag deployed. But even when the driver and passenger did everything correctly, they can still happen.

If you suspect an airbag injury, you’ll need evidence to prove it. This means it is critical to try to preserve the parts of an airbag after a collision. You don’t want the bag itself or the crash sensor to be disposed of.

Try to retain the vehicle and all airbag parts so you’ll have the evidence you need to prove your claim. This can be a challenge if the car is declared a total loss and the insurer wants to take possession of it. Talk with an attorney before allowing this to occur so you can preserve evidence that may be crucial to your case.

If an airbag injury occurred, you may be able to recover compensation for your losses. You could pursue a claim against:

• The airbag manufacturer
• The automobile manufacturer
• Anyone who inspected, maintained or replaced the airbag after purchase

To successfully sue for damages resulting from your injuries, you must be able to prove that the airbag was defective and that the defect was the direct cause of harm.

You will make your claim under product liability laws, so you do not have to prove anyone was negligent. Companies are strictly liable when their products cause harm due to a defect, even if there was no evidence of carelessness during the design or manufacture process.

While you can pursue your case under strict liability rules, there are also other legal claims as well. For example, you could sue for negligent design or construction, or for breach of express or implied warranty if the airbag fails to fulfill promises made by the manufacturer.

In many cases, even if you were to blame for a car accident, you may still be able to recover some compensation for an airbag injury if you can prove you were damaged by a defect in the safety device.

If you can successfully prove that an airbag malfunction caused you harm, you should be compensated for all losses directly caused by the defective product. This can include compensation for:

• Medical bills to treat airbag injuries
• Lost wages if you cannot work to your full capacity due to injuries
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress damages

An experienced injury attorney can help you to pursue your case and demonstrate the extent of your losses.

A statute of limitations applies to product liability claims in every state.

If the statute of limitations has passed, you cannot pursue your claim. Depending where you live, the statute of limitations generally runs from two to four years. If more time than that has passed, your claim may be time barred which means you will not be able to move forward with pursuing a lawsuit to recover damages.

You shouldn’t wait to pursue your claim since you’ll want to act when evidence is fresh. Contact an attorney as soon as you suspect an airbag injury has occurred.