Like seatbelts, airbags are designed to protect you and your loved ones from serious injuries during a car accident. The airbag has a sensor referred to as the airbag ECU, which signals it to inflate when it senses an impact.
When the airbag is deployed, it inflates, restraining you from coming in contact with the steering wheel, windshield, or dashboard. The law requires all motor vehicles manufactured after 1999 to be fully equipped with driver and passenger airbags.
Unfortunately, these devices can sometimes be the primary cause of injuries during an accident. Typically, the airbag comes out of the dashboard at an extremely high speed. Furthermore, it can be hot and covered with dangerous chemicals and dust. A combination of these factors can lead to severe injuries.
Luckily, you may be entitled to compensation if you have airbag related injuries, regardless of whether it was faulty or not. This article covers everything you need to know about airbag injuries and car accidents. Read on to learn more.
How Does An Airbag Work?
An airbag is usually made from light fabric. A car will generally have two frontal airbags- one for the driver and another for the passenger.
These are usually located on the steering wheel (for the driver) and near the glove compartment (for the passenger). When an accident is about to happen, a special sensor will detect it and send a signal to inflate the airbag within 0.04 to 0.5 seconds.
When the signal to inflate the airbag is sent, a gas (usually argon nitrogen) is produced to fill the airbag and deploy it. Everything happens so fast that you won’t even notice it.
The airbag generally deploys in about 1/20th of a second, which is why it comes out of the dashboard or steering wheel at high speed. During deployment, it may release different types of chemicals and dust that may irritate your skin and eyes.
How Do Airbag Injuries Happen?
Airbags are quite hazardous for a number of reasons. Many standard airbag inflators are full of sodium azide, a relatively toxic chemical substance that forms the gas used to fill the airbag. When the airbag finally deploys, the sodium azide is supposed to turn to nitrogen gas.
While nitrogen gas isn’t harmful, some sodium azide may escape out of the airbag, forming a chemical substance known as hydrazoic acid. Both unconverted sodium azide and hydrazoic acid are highly toxic. If you inhale these chemicals, you could become ill.
The basic laws of physics also explain why car airbags may cause injuries during accidents. In most cases, the driver airbag is situated in the horn pad of the car’s steering wheel.
It is located firmly between the parts of the wheel that a driver grips with their hands. Therefore, a driver may experience severe injuries to their arms or wrist as the airbag deploys.
A fully functional airbag is usually deployed with explosive force. If a motorist or passenger wasn’t wearing a seatbelt at the time of deployment, the speed and force of deployment could result in the driver and co-driver sustaining severe injuries. These injuries can range from mild burns to detached retinas and even impact death.
Sometimes, an airbag may fail to deploy during an accident. This usually happens when the car’s battery is too weak, or there is some sort of blockage in the electrical system.
If you have been in a car accident and the airbag failed to deploy, you should seek medical attention immediately as you may have suffered from other injuries such as whiplash.
What Are Common Airbag Injuries?
Airbags can cause many different types of injuries. Here are some of the most common ones:
- Burns: When an airbag deploys, it comes out of the dashboard at high speed and can be quite hot. As a result, you may suffer from first or second-degree burns. These burns can be quite painful and may require medical attention.
- Cuts: The airbag may also cause cuts on your face, arms, or hands. These cuts can be deep and may require stitches.
- Eye Injuries: If you weren’t wearing glasses or sunglasses at the time of deployment, the airbag could cause serious eye injuries such as a detached retina.
- Head Injuries: If you weren’t wearing a seatbelt at the time of deployment, the airbag could cause serious head injuries. These injuries can range from mild concussions to traumatic brain injuries.
- Neck Injuries: The airbag may also cause whiplash or other neck injuries. These injuries can be very painful and may require extensive medical treatment.
What Should I Do If I Have Been Injured by An Airbag?
If you have been injured by an airbag, you may be wondering what to do next. The first thing you should do is seek medical attention, even if you think your injuries are minor. It is always better to be safe than sorry.
Once you have seen a doctor, you should consider consulting with a personal injury lawyer. A lawyer will be able to help you navigate the legal process and ensure that you are fairly compensated for your injuries.
Furthermore, if it is found that the airbag was defective, you may be able to file a product liability claim against the manufacturer. If you choose to go down this route, a lawyer will be able to help you with that as well.
Do You Need Legal Counsel?
The simple answer is yes; you should at least consult with a lawyer if you have been injured by an airbag. The legal process can be complicated, and you will likely need the help of a professional to ensure that you are fairly compensated for your injuries.
At times, airbags cause more harm than good. If you have been injured by an airbag, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact a personal injury lawyer near you today to learn more about your legal rights and options. Contact an attorney near you today to get started!
