Airbag Injuries

Airbags were designed to enhance safety features on all types of vehicles with intentions not much different from those of seatbelts. However, regardless of intentions, since becoming an industry standard in the 1990s, airbags have left numerous people injured, maimed, or even dead. Many blame this on the manufacturer’s failure to test airbags on individuals of differing sizes.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 227 people have been killed in low-severity crashes due to airbag deployment: 76 drivers, 10 adult passengers, 119 children between the ages of 1 and 11, and 22 infants. Of the 86 adults who were killed, 32 were less than 5 feet and 2 inches tall. Airbags were usually only tested to meet the needs 5’ 8” males, weighing around 180 lbs.

Airbags deploy at speeds that can exceed 230 miles per hour, and with more than 1,200 pounds of pressure. No one should ever rely on just an airbag to protect them in the event of a collision. Proper seating positions and safety restraints are also important.

In addition to the numerous people killed by airbags, thousands more suffer injuries. Injuries include eye injuries, facial injuries, and even broken bones. Eye injuries can range in severity from bruises in the eye socket to ruptured eyeballs, which can result in blindness or other long-term injuries to the eye.

It seems injuries are much more prevalent than deaths. However, data involving injuries is difficult to evaluate. Accidents and injuries are reported to the National Automotive Sampling System on a voluntary basis, and often include information that is not verified or investigated. Injuries are not identified as an issue, and are not tracked by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Currently, there are two types of airbags that are used in modern vehicles:  Frontal Airbags, and Side-Impact Airbags. 

Frontal Airbags, also known as depowered airbags, have been standard equipment in all passenger cars since 1998, and all vans, SUVS, and pickup trucks since 1999.  These devices are supposed to inflate in the event of a moderate to severe frontal crash in order to prevent the individual from colliding with the interior of the vehicle.  However, due to negligent design, Frontal Airbags often deploy late or unnecessarily.  This often results in death or injury.

Side-Impact Airbags, also known as SABs, are inflatable devices designed to protect your head and/or chest in the event of a side-impact collusion.  One of the differences between SABs and Frontal Airbags is that SABs stay inflated during the collision for several seconds for additional protection.  Chest SABs are usually mounted in the door or in the side of the seat.  Head SABs are usually mounted on the rail of the roof above the side windows.  As with Frontal Airbags, negligent design often causes late or unnecessary deployment, often resulting in serious injury or death.

If you or someone you love has suffered due to a defective airbag, you should contact the lawyers at Schwartzapfel Partners. Your suffering could be due to negligent design or manufacturing, and the experienced attorneys at Schwartzapfel Partners will ensure that you receive all reparations you deserve.

Please fill out the online contact form or call us at (877) 625-4473.

These Hubs are provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. Professional legal counsel should be sought for specific advice relevant to your circumstances.