Can Airbags Injure You in a Car Accident?

There has been an alarming increase in the number of auto accidents resulting in airbag injuries during the past decade. Sometimes the protection devices deploy without impact and are essentially the actual cause of the accident. The number of vehicle models that have been recalled due to this problem has also increased drastically in the past year after the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration began investigating the specific accidents. At issue are various Takata airbags that are now known to have been installed in a very wide variety of vehicle models for practically every car manufacturer.

This is not to mention the injuries that occur when airbags do release properly after being impacted by a vehicle. Airbags effectively explode when they engage, releasing fast and with considerable force. When the passenger is turned in a vulnerable position, the final result can be injuries to the face, arms, and neck area, potentially causing central nervous system problems that can prove catastrophic in some instances. However, pinpointing that an injury was caused by an airbag can be a difficult task without an experienced car accident lawyer clients trusts investigating the entire material case evidence record.

External Injuries

Common external injuries resulting from an exploding airbag are usually to the upper torso, with many of those injuries being lacerations to the arms and facial area. While external injuries to the arms are often considered superficial, lacerations to the face can result in permanent scarring and potential surgical repair. In some instances, the parts of the body the airbag is designed to protect are actually the body parts that are injured.

The chance for upper body and facial injuries is more likely for drivers, while passengers tend to experience injuries to lower extremities as well because of airbag installation design. It is important to remember that the airbag is designed to protect the passengers, but an impacted automobile can also experienced damage that could also cause injuries when debris is dislodged inside the vehicle.

Internal Injuries

While external injuries are obvious, the same cannot be said of internal injuries that assuredly can happen from an airbag during a collision. The problem with internal injuries is that they are not always immediately recognized unless there is significant pain. Injuries such as a twisted back or whiplash around the neck around can easily manifest later. Even if an accident victim has no apparent external injuries, it is still best for the accident victim to seek treatment at an emergency facility. Internal organ damage is common, as well as separated shoulders or broken limbs, and internal problems can be very dangerous. Internal bleeding situations can worsen quickly, even resulting in a fatality, and time is of the essence even though the symptoms may appear minimal.

An experienced car accident lawyer would advise those with airbag injuries of any type to seek medical attention immediately following a crash. Timing is very important documentation when damages are being recovered in an auto accident case, especially when the injury is not apparent. Attorneys must connect the injury to the accident and use the case evidence regarding the deployment of the airbag configuration to establish cause and effect for the injured victim. Lapses in time can provide the respondent insurance provider an opening for an case issue that can be used to deny or lessen the value of an injury claim.