Vehicle airbags have been in use for many years, and while they save lives, they can also cause problems such as injury and death. Your car’s airbag isn’t like a pillow–during a crash, it is expelled from your dashboard at almost 200 miles per hour, and sitting too close can cause severe injury.
Injuries Caused by Airbags
Airbags can cause eye injuries, ranging from bruising to ruptured eyeballs. Studies show that most people injured by airbags suffer eye trauma to the bones and soft tissues of the eye socket, and problems can last for life. Other injuries can be caused by airbags. Depending on your position within the vehicle, an airbag can break bones in your arms, or cause your arms to hit you in the face.
Statistics on Airbag Injuries
It is hard to amass statistics on airbag injuries, because these injuries are only reported on a voluntary basis. However, the statistics collected include facts such as:
The NHTSA says that vehicle airbags have saved more than 10,000 lives
Seatbelt and airbag use prevents 81% of head injuries, and 66% of serious chest injuries
Airbags have caused more than 200 deaths, with the majority being children
The incidence of broken bones and injuries is higher with children, infants in safety seats, and those who sit less than 10″ from the steering wheel.
Why Airbags Can Cause Injuries
Airbags cause many injuries because of the speed at which they are deployed, and because they were originally designed for an average-size male. Even if a driver sits far back from the wheel, airbags can cause significant injury. In some cases, poor design, installation or production can lead to failure. Airbags can deploy with excessive force, they can deploy when not needed, or they can fail to deploy at all.
If I Suffer an Injury Because of an Airbag, Do I Need to Hire an Attorney?
Anytime you are in a car accident, you should call a personal injury lawyer immediately. If you have been hurt by a vehicle’s airbag, a lawyer with Injury Law On Call can help you find out whether the airbag was broken or defective, and what legal rights and remedies you have.
