While airbags have been proven to save lives, there are instances where that same airbag has unintended negative effects, resulting in injuries and, in rare cases, even death. While most of the complaints about airbags relate to minor injuries such as abrasions and bruises, sometimes airbags can more severely injure a passenger, especially children or infants, especially if the airbag is defective. The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration recalled over 1.4 million airbags due to safety issues in 2004 alone. As airbags continue to get more and more sophisticated and complex in the goal of saving lives, they also have more potential to malfunction and not go off when they are needed. The issue is that it’s impossible to know whether an airbag is defective until it’s too late.
How Airbags are Designed?
First of all, air bags were specifically developed for a male who is 5 ft. 8 inches tall and weighs 180 pounds. No considerations were made for shorter or smaller people, children, or even those who naturally sit closer to the steering wheel. In certain people who have heart conditions or osteoporosis, and exploding airbag could potentially be fatal. An airbag goes off with 2,000 pounds of force at a speed of over two hundred miles per hour. Because of this, adults may suffer brain trauma, head and neck injuries or spinal and torso injuries when an airbag deploys.
An airbag is designed to deploy in any crash which equals a vehicle crashing into a solid object at eight to fourteen miles per hour. The airbag is a fabric bag which fills up with nitrogen gas upon impact due to a sensor which instantaneously detects the intensity and direction of the crash as it happens. The sensor sends an electric signal which initiates the chemical reaction, and the bag inflates, then vents in the bags allow them to immediately deflate after cushioning the occupants from the crash.
Other Injuries Caused by Airbags
A deploying airbag can cause blunt trauma to the eyes in the form of orbital contusions or abrasions, blurred vision or even retinal detachment. If the occupant remains in the car or truck for a significant amount of time with the windows closed and no ventilation available, the contents of the airbag can cause eye irritation. An airbag which deploys can also be the cause of an asthma attack in a person who has the disease due to inhaling the dust from the airbag.
In some cases occupants have suffered chemical injuries from burns which are caused by the gas which is emitted from the airbag during a crash. While more serious airbag injuries are uncommon, they do happen. If a person is very close to the airbag when it deploys they could suffer a traumatic brain injury, facial scarring or even death. Airbags can occasionally drive broken glass into the victim’s upper body and face, causing severe cuts and abrasions.
Why You Must Wear a Safety Belt if Your Vehicle has Airbags
The primary instance where an airbag will cause more harm than it does good is when the occupant is not wearing a safety belt. Drivers who are unrestrained have incurred serious and fatal injuries from airbags as the body is going forward while the airbag is going toward you. When the two meet at high speeds serious injuries or death are likely to occur.
If you have been the victim of an airbag injury caused from a defective airbag, it is essential that you contact an experienced Mississippi personal injury attorney who can determine which party is responsible for your injuries.
Call us today to discuss your legal rights and the details of your right to fair compensation.