The airbags that are installed in our vehicles are expected to provide “cushioning” to break the impact for when an unexpected accident occurs. While frontal airbags have reduced driver fatalities by 29% and front-seat passengers ages 13 and up by 32% in frontal collisions, they are also responsible for causing car wreck victims to suffer from serious injuries [Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety]. When an airbag deploys, not only does it release harmful gases and substances, but the pressure from it can cause a person to sustain severe and even life-threatening injuries.
What are some injuries airbags have been known to cause?
According to Medscape, at the time of deployment, an airbag releases “various high-temperature gases, including nitrogen and carbon dioxide, and produces sodium hydroxide, a highly irritant alkaline substance.” Once released, those in the direct path of the airbag are at risk of suffering dermatologic injuries including “traumatic lesions, irritant dermatitis, and chemical and thermal burns.” In fact, Medscape cited that dermatologic injuries occur in about 7%-8% of cases where airbag deployment occurred. The gases have also been linked to causing respiratory problems in those who suffer from asthma.
Other injuries an airbag can cause include:
- Ear and eye lesions
- Bone fractures- Medscape cited there are occasions where your wrists and forearms may become trapped between your chest and the steering wheel when the airbag deploys which could lead to your hands becoming fractured.
- Contusive damage
- Lacerations
- Friction burns- When the airbag unfolds and creates a “slapping action,” this is known to cause a friction burn.
- Cardiac injuries
I was involved in a car wreck in Nashville, TN and suffered injuries after the airbag deployed.
What legal action am I permitted to take?
While most drivers are aware of the dangers associated with airbag deployment, they aren’t informed on what they can do when an airbag causes them to suffer one or more injuries. In most cases, you are permitted to pursue the party who was responsible for the wreck for compensation that serves as relief for the pain and suffering they have caused you. This includes pain and suffering caused by the accident itself as well as the damage the airbag caused. However, if it can be determined that the airbag was defective at the time of deployment which directly caused you to sustain an injury, then you may be able to go after the manufacturer or company who made it and/or sold it.
In order to determine which party you can hold accountable for the unfortunate injuries you are now working to recover from, you’ll need to speak with a legal expert who is skilled in auto accident and personal injury law. With more than 40 years of legal experience, Nashville, TN car wreck lawyer George R. Fusner Jr. is more than qualified to review the details of your accident and determine the value of your damages as well as who is responsible for paying for them. If you would like the Law Office of George R. Fusner Jr. to assess whether you have a viable case on your hands, contact us now at 615-251-0005 to schedule an initial consultation.
You can reach the Law Office of George R. Fusner Jr. at
7104 Peach Court
Brentwood, TN 37027
Phone- 615-251-0005
Fax- 615-370-8447
Website: www.gfusnerlaw.com