Common Types of Airbag Injuries
Airbags are required in modern vehicles because they’re proven to save lives. But, a defective device can cause severe airbag injuries and even death, especially in a car accident. If you or a loved one is a victim of an airbag injury in Minnesota, the attorneys at Sieben Polk P.A. want to hear about your case and will fight for the full and fair compensation you deserve.
Airbags are designed to save lives. However, they don’t always perform as intended. A defective airbag can cause severe injuries and even death. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that more than 67 million vehicles were recalled in the United States for faulty airbag systems.
At Sieben Polk P.A., our Minnesota personal injury attorneys fiercely advocate for drivers and passengers who suffered airbag injuries or wrongful death caused by defective airbags. Our law firm aggressively fights for justice on behalf of our clients to pursue maximum compensation from the responsible parties. Contact us today to schedule a free, confidential consultation to discuss your options.
What Are the Most Common Injuries Caused by Airbags?
Airbags save lives and prevent serious injuries when they function properly. Frontal airbags have been standard equipment in all passenger vehicles since the late 1990s. While passenger-side airbags aren’t required by law, they are often included as standard equipment in new vehicles.
Airbag deployment happens when the system’s crash sensor activates during a moderate to severe collision. A chemical reaction triggers the device’s igniter, which inflates the airbag in less than 1/20th of a second.
Because airbags deploy with such speed, they can cause burns and abrasions on the skin. The force of an airbag deployment can also break bones and lead to other serious consequences. Some common airbag injuries include:
- Eye injuries from chemical irritation or the pressure of the airbag
- Chest injuries, including injuries to internal organs
- Internal bleeding from organ damage caused by airbag deployment
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Burns on the chest, hands, arms, or face when the fabric of the airbag moves along the skin
- Soft tissue injuries like sprains and strains
- Fractures including to the skull, ribs, and wrist bones
- Asthma attacks and other respiratory issues from chemicals released during deployment
- Facial injuries
- Injury to the fetus in pregnant women
- Ear trauma, including hearing loss
Manufacturers design airbags, whether installed in a steering wheel or elsewhere, to minimize harm to anyone old enough to legally sit in the front seat of a vehicle. The force of an airbag is enough to harm small children, which is a large part of why they should sit in the backseat. However, airbags can still injure adults and older children, even if they are old enough to sit in the front seat.
Common Causes of Airbag Injuries
It may not seem right to blame airbags for injuries when they’re life-saving equipment. Unfortunately, these complex devices don’t always operate as they should. The smallest deviation in how they deploy can result in serious injuries or even death.
Some of the most common causes of airbag injuries include the following:
- Airbags deploying when no crash is detected
- Airbags deploying too late after a crash
- Airbags containing shrapnel
- Airbags deploying with too much force
- Airbags failing to deploy after a crash
- Improperly installed airbags
- Fake or counterfeit airbags
What Are Your Rights After an Airbag Injury?
Airbags fail for many reasons, and determining the cause is not always easy. Thus, it’s critical to contact an experienced product liability lawyer. If you’re involved in an accident where an airbag may have contributed to your injuries or the death of a loved one, you have the right to pursue compensation.
What Compensation Is Available for an Airbag Injury?
Big corporations that make defective products usually have teams of lawyers on hand ready to fight injury claims. An experienced law firm that handles these types of car accident injuries can help protect your rights and level the playing field. If your airbag injury case is successful, compensation could include payment for:
- Hospital bills
- Lost wages
- Property damage
- Physical pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Permanent disability and disfigurement
- Emotional distress
- Funeral and burial expenses, in the event of wrongful death
Who Is Liable for an Airbag Injury?
Not everyone knows that more than one party can be responsible for an accident. You can still recover compensation for injuries caused by faulty or defective airbags, even if the crash was your fault. In some cases, faulty airbags might even be the primary cause of a car crash if they deploy unexpectedly.
Studies show that airbags work when installed and used correctly. But if they aren’t properly installed or have been tampered with, they can be deadly. Designers, manufacturers, and installers make mistakes. The designer or manufacturer can be held accountable if the airbag’s design was defective, causing it to explode for no reason. Similarly, the vehicle maker can be held accountable if a perfectly good airbag was installed incorrectly.
Sometimes, an independent mechanic or car dealer will re-install or service airbags. If those devices fail, they need to answer for what happens. An experienced car or truck accident lawyer can help determine who is responsible for your airbag injury and help you pursue justice.
How Long Do You Have To Make a Claim for Your Airbag Injury in Minnesota?
Several different statutes of limitations may apply to your airbag injury case. The statute of limitations for filing a product liability lawsuit is four years. Since an injury from a defectively designed or manufactured airbag constitutes a product liability case, you have four years from the incident to file suit.
However, if your injury is caused by negligence, such as a car accident, truck crash, or motorcycle accident, you have six years to file a lawsuit. Thus, that deadline will apply to claims against at-fault drivers and other negligent parties.
If a family member dies due to another’s negligent conduct, you have three years to file a wrongful death claim.
Don’t wait until it’s too late. An experienced lawyer from Sieben Polk P.A. can determine the applicable deadline for your case and ensure you file suit in time. Contact us as soon as possible. If you miss your deadline, you’ll lose your right to pursue compensation for your injuries.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What if My Airbag Didn’t Deploy?
You may have a product liability case in addition to an insurance claim or lawsuit against the driver who caused the crash if your airbag failed to operate as it should during a collision. A lawyer with our firm can investigate your situation and help you pursue compensation from all responsible parties.
Can an Airbag Kill You?
Defective airbags have killed hundreds of people. When they were first developed, young children sitting in front passenger seats suffered the most fatalities. However, airbag deaths still occur. If you’ve lost a loved one, speak with a knowledgeable wrongful death attorney about your rights.
What Can I Do To Prevent Airbag Injuries?
Because airbags deploy so quickly, they can be dangerous. You risk severe injury if you sit too close to the device while it is deploying. The NHTSA recommends taking the following precautions:
- Wearing a seatbelt at all times
- Sitting a minimum of 10 inches from the steering wheel or passenger dashboard
- Seating children 12 and under in the back seat
If your vehicle’s airbags ever deploy, they are not reusable. Make sure a qualified technician replaces them.
Our Team of Car Accident Lawyers Is Here to Help
There’s nothing simple about an airbag injury case. Determining who’s responsible is just one challenge you’ll have to face. At Sieben Polk P.A., we believe you deserve full compensation for your financial losses, pain, and suffering. When you hire our personal injury law firm, you can rely on us to do the following:
- Conduct a thorough and independent investigation of your accident
- Identify all responsible parties for your injuries
- Handle all aspects of your claim
- Document damages and handle all paperwork
- Negotiate for a fair settlement or pursue litigation
If you or a loved one is a car accident victim, contact the experienced Eagan car crash lawyers. Call Sieben Polk P.A. at 651-437-3148 for a free consultation. We’ll listen to your story and develop a strategy to get you the best possible results. We aim to take the burden off your shoulders so you can focus on your recovery.
- What Are the Most Common Injuries Caused by Airbags?
- What Are Your Rights After an Airbag Injury?
- Who Is Liable for an Airbag Injury?
- How Long Do You Have To Make a Claim for Your Airbag Injury in Minnesota?
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What if My Airbag Didn’t Deploy?
- Can an Airbag Kill You?
- What Can I Do To Prevent Airbag Injuries?
- Our Team of Car Accident Lawyers Is Here to Help
