Modern passenger vehicles are required to have airbags because these devices can provide a great deal of protection during a crash. However, it is possible that the airbags in your vehicle could actually be the cause of injuries in a crash. Airbags could also cause injuries to drivers and passengers even if a vehicle is not involved in an accident.
In serious car accidents, airbags could result in moderate injuries for the driver and passenger(s) — but this is seen as a small price to pay compared to the damage that would have occurred without the airbags. In these cases, it’s not likely that airbag-related injuries would be viable in a civil suit. However, there are certain situations where airbags might cause unreasonable and unnecessary harm. These incidents might justify a personal injury lawsuit.
- Improper Installation
If an airbag is not properly installed, it could take longer to inflate than it should. In some cases, it might not inflate at all, which means that the driver’s or passenger’s head would slam into the dashboard or into the windshield with nothing to cushion the blow. If airbag parts are not installed correctly, metal shrapnel could fly at passengers’ bodies as the airbags deploy. If this happens to you, it may be worthwhile to talk to a personal injury lawyer about ways to seek compensation from parties who may be potentially liable for your injuries.
- Improper Deflation
When they operate properly, an airbag is supposed to inflate quickly, absorb the impact from a driver and then deflate as soon as that impact occurs. If the airbag does not deflate fast enough, the effect could be similar to not having this safety feature at all.
- Unwarranted Inflation
An airbag is designed to inflate when the sensors inside of it detect a collision. However, it is possible that sensors improperly detect that a collision has occurred and deploy when a driver is not ready for it. They may also deploy after you put too much pressure on the brakes. In such a scenario, the sensors inside of it may mistake the hard stop as an impending collision.
- Harm to Passengers Under Age 12
If you have small or young children in your vehicle, it may be best to put them in the backseat. This is because an airbag deploys with a significant amount of force, and it could cause a serious head or neck injury if it made contact with a child. Furthermore, a child might sit closer to the dashboard than an adult would, which means that an airbag might not have time to fully inflate.
If an airbag isn’t fully inflated, it doesn’t have the ability to offer optimal protection. It is important to keep in mind that they are designed to protect a person who weighs at least 65 pounds. Therefore, if you have an older child or teenager who is still on the light side, it may be best to have that person ride in the back or at least push the front seat back.
While airbags can be an effective way to keep yourself and other safe during a car accident, they also have the potential to injure. If you suffered head, neck or any other injuries because of a defective airbag, make sure to talk to a lawyer as soon as possible. Consultations are usually free, and many personal injury attorneys do not demand payment until you win your case.