Airbag Injuries You Can Sustain and the Compensation You Are Entitled To

Airbags are designed to save lives during car accidents. They inflate quickly to help lower the chance of serious injuries and have protected many people. An airbag deploys when your vehicle’s sensors detect a crash.

However, sometimes airbags can cause injuries instead of keeping you safe.

If you have been injured because an airbag did not work correctly, it is important to know what compensation you may be able to receive for these injuries. This article will look at the compensation you can seek for airbag injuries, the common types of injuries, and their causes.

Common Airbag Injuries

Airbag injuries occur due to the rapid deployment speed or issues in the airbag's system. Here are the most common types of airbag injuries:

Facial and Eye Injuries

When an airbag deploys with high impact, it can cause serious injuries to your face. You might end up with painful bruises, fractures, or even damage to your eyes. In some cases, this can lead to long-term vision problems, which can affect your everyday life and well-being.

Neck and Spine Injuries

The force from an airbag can be powerful enough to strain or sprain your neck and back. This is especially true if you’re sitting too close to the airbag when it deploys. The sudden jolt can cause significant discomfort or even lasting damage to your spine.

Burns and Abrasions

Airbags are filled with chemicals and inflate at a rapid speed, which can cause burns or abrasions for some.

You might get chemical burns from contact with the airbag’s surface or friction burns from the fast deployment. These can range from minor to more serious injuries, depending on the situation.

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)

In some severe cases, if an airbag doesn’t deploy properly or you’re in a violent crash, it can lead to brain injuries. This could include concussions or, in the worst-case scenario, more severe traumatic brain injuries that can have lasting effects on your health and quality of life.

Internal Organ Damage

The airbag's force is designed to cushion your body, but if it's too strong or your body is too close to it, it can compress your chest and cause damage to internal organs, such as your lungs or heart. This kind of injury can be life-threatening and typically requires immediate medical attention.

Causes of Airbag Injuries

Airbag injuries happen due to design problems, manufacturing mistakes, or lack of maintenance. Here are the main reasons:

Delayed or Early Deployment: If an airbag deploys too late, passengers may hit the dashboard before it inflates. If it goes off too early, it can hurt people unnecessarily.

Faulty Sensors: Some sensors might wrongly see small bumps as crashes or might not notice a real accident, leading to incorrect deployment.

Proximity to the Airbag: Sitting too close to the airbag increases the chance of injury because the airbag inflates very quickly.

Compensation for Airbag Injuries

If you’ve sustained an injury due to an airbag, you can pursue compensation to cover both tangible and intangible damages. The types of compensation include:

Medical Expenses: This covers costs for emergency care, surgeries, therapy, and any ongoing medical needs.

Lost Wages: Compensation for the income you’ve lost due to your inability to work.

Pain and Suffering: This encompasses the physical and emotional toll of the injury.

Property Damage: Repairs or replacement costs for the damaged vehicle.

Punitive Damages: In some cases, courts award punitive damages to penalize manufacturers for gross negligence.

Final Thoughts

Airbags, while essential, can cause unexpected harm. Knowing your rights and taking action promptly can make a significant difference in recovering fair compensation.

If you’re dealing with airbag-related injuries, consulting a legal professional ensures your claim is handled effectively. Protect yourself, and seek the justice you deserve.