Airbags are designed to save and protect people’s lives in an accident. However, in some cases, airbags malfunction, causing serious harm. Several incidents related to this issue have been reported, leading to recalls. The largest recall was the Takata airbags, which caused 23 reported fatalities and more than 250 injuries.
In this article, we will discuss airbag-related injuries to help you understand the risks involved.
Fractures
Airbags deploy at a speed of around 8-14 mph and it takes around 1/20 seconds. This is faster than blinking. If you are wearing a seatbelt, the speed is much higher at about 16 mph. This impact can cause significant trauma and injuries to your face.
You can end up breaking your nose, cheekbones, jaws, or orbital bones, which leads to fractured eye sockets. Additionally, the pressure can crack your ribs or leave deep bruising. In minor cases, victims get bruising, swelling, and abrasions.
Also, you may suffer fractures when your arms, hands, or wrists are hit by a deploying airbag. Your shoulder could dislocate, leading to a lengthy and painful recovery.
Concussions and TBIs
An airbag is supposed to protect you from hitting your head on the dashboard or other surfaces in the car. However, the impact force from the airbag can cause a rebound effect where your head hits another surface. Sometimes, the brain jolts, moving violently in the skull, leading to concussions or severe traumatic brain injuries (TBI).
The risks of getting a TBI significantly increase when a person is sitting too close to an airbag before it deploys. For instance, moving your driver’s seat next to the steering wheel. Not wearing a seatbelt appropriately also increases the risk of your head coming into contact with an airbag.
Burns
Airbags are made of fabrics, propellants, and canisters. These canisters have sodium azide, which gets oxidized and ends up inflating after an accident. When these chemicals are released at high speed, they cause burns, cuts, and lacerations.
Even though these burns are sometimes less severe, they are still quite painful. Defective airbags, such as those in the Takata recall, explode and metal bits hit the people in the vehicle. Any redness or swelling after a deployed airbag could indicate burns.
Internal Organ Damage
Excessive force from a deployed airbag can cause internal organ damage to your lungs and liver. Also, fractured ribs could end up piercing essential organs, leading to internal damage.
Direct force to your chest may also result in cardiac arrest. Your heart muscle may be bruised, leading to a cardiac contusion, which is a life-threatening injury.
Spinal Cord Injuries
The rapid deployment of an airbag can suddenly snap a victim’s head backward or forward. This jerking motion often leads to whiplash, which causes muscle strains, severe pain, and stiffness.
The impact may also lead to herniated discs. This occurs when the spinal cord burges and presses the surrounding nerves. In severe cases, it could lead to spinal fractures and permanent disability.
Eye and Ear Damage
Defective airbags could lead to total or partial blindness. The debris from an airbag may enter a victim’s eye, affecting their vision. As mentioned, the impact may fracture eye sockets, causing double vision and limited eye movements.
Loud explosions could also damage your ears. Victims risk suffering from hearing loss or tinnitus. This causes a ringing in your ear, which makes it difficult to sleep or concentrate.
Conclusion
As much as airbags are designed to protect us, they can cause several injuries after an accident. Victims may suffer permanent damage like hearing loss, blindness, and mobility issues. If you suffer injuries because of poorly deployed airbags, contact an attorney who will explain your legal options and advise on the next steps to secure compensation.
