Airbags are meant to protect drivers and their passengers. However, these safety devices can also be dangerous. In fact, airbag injuries are some of the most common and severe types of injuries that can be sustained in a car accident. If you were in a collision caused by someone else’s negligence and sustained airbag injuries as a result, it’s important to understand your rights. You may be entitled to compensation for both your financial losses and your pain and suffering.

Key Takeaways

• There are several ways airbag injuries can occur. They may be caused by the force of the impact, exposure to the chemicals inside the airbag, or by a mechanical defect in the airbag itself.
• Airbag injuries can be serious, resulting in traumatic brain injury, bruises, fractures, organ trauma, lacerations, and chemical burns, depending on the impact.
• A car accident victim may be entitled to a wide range of damages for their airbag injuries by filing a personal injury action, including their economic losses and pain and suffering.

How Do Airbag Injuries Occur During a Car Accident?

Airbags use crash sensors that send a signal from the electronic control unit to an inflator within the airbag module when a collision is detected. An igniter in the inflator causes a chemical reaction that produces a harmless nitrogen gas to inflate the airbag within a fraction of a second. The bag then bursts through its cover, such as the steering wheel or the dashboard, inflating at a speed up to 200 miles per hour. The airbag instantly deflates after absorbing the impact energy, allowing the occupant to move back into their seat.

There are a few ways airbag injuries can occur. When the airbag deploys, the extreme force of the rapid inflation can result in impact injuries when the body comes into contact with it. A car accident victim can also suffer injuries in connection with the chemicals inside the airbag. In the event the airbag components are defective, the airbag may deploy too forcefully or fail to inflate at all. Ultimately, the type of injuries sustained, and the severity of them, will depend upon the force of impact, any chemical exposure, and whether the airbag functioned properly.

Common Airbag Injuries

Although airbags are meant to be a safety feature to protect car accident victims from injury, they can inflict their own set of serious injuries. Airbag injuries can vary, depending on the force of impact, where the victim was positioned, and whether the device deployed as designed. Some common airbag injuries can include the following:

• Bruises: The forceful impact of the airbag can rupture small vessels under the skin, resulting in bruises and contusions. While these injuries can appear to be minor, they can sometimes indicate deeper trauma.
• Broken bones and fractures: The forceful movement of airbag deployment can exert enough force causing bones to break and fracture when it strikes the body.
• Internal injuries: If the airbag strikes the abdomen or chest, it can cause organ trauma or internal bleeding.
• Facial injuries: Airbags can cause a wide range of facial injuries, including abrasions, eye injuries, and fractures to the nose, cheekbones, and jaw.
• Traumatic brain injury: Traumatic brain injury or concussion can occur due to the direct impact of the airbag against the head, causing the brain to hit the skull. Brain injuries can also be caused by whiplash effect in connection with the airbag deployment.
• Lacerations: When the abrasive material from the airbag scrapes the skin, it can cause lacerations and cuts.
• Chemical burns: While chemicals such as sodium azide are used to inflate airbags, chemical burns can result if the skin is directly exposed.
• Soft tissue injuries: Damage to muscles, ligaments, and tendons can be caused by the sudden force of the airbag inflation.

Airbag injuries can require extensive medical treatment, cause a victim to lose time from work, and result in a considerable amount of physical pain and mental anguish. A victim may not be able to participate in the activities they once enjoyed and experience a diminished quality of life. They might also incur substantial financial and non-financial losses, which can be overwhelming for them and their family. Pursuing a personal injury action is often a critical step to recover full and fair compensation for these damages.

Compensation for Airbag Injuries

A car accident victim may be entitled to a wide range of compensation in a personal injury action for airbag injuries. Specifically, if the collision was caused by someone else’s negligence, carelessness, or recklessness, a victim may be entitled to both their economic and non-economic damages, including:

• Unreimbursed medical expenses
• The costs of rehabilitation, surgery, and hospital stays
• Future medical costs
• Lost wages
• Future loss of earnings
• Out-of-pocket costs
• Physical pain
• Mental anguish
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Disfigurement and scarring
• Loss of consortium

Typically, legal liability would fall upon the driver at fault for the accident. However, in some cases, a municipality might be to blame if the crash was caused by improperly maintained roads or a defect in the roadway. If the airbag injuries were the result of a defect in the airbag itself, the manufacturer may be held accountable. A skillful personal injury attorney can conduct a thorough investigation and best determine the parties who should be named in a personal injury lawsuit.

Contact an Experienced Alaska Personal Injury Attorney

If you suffered airbag injuries in a car crash, it’s crucial to have a knowledgeable personal injury attorney who can protect your rights and fight for the compensation you deserve. Proudly serving accident victims in Anchorage, Soldotna, Kenai, Palmer, Fairbanks, Juneau, Wasilla, and other areas of Alaska, The Trial Guy, Eric Derleth, represents clients for a wide range of personal injury matters, including those involving car accidents. Call 907-262-9164 to schedule a free consultation at our Anchorage or Soldotna office, or contact us online. Our phone lines are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.