New vehicles are safer than ever. In some cases, accident victims can step out of their mangled vehicle with hardly a scratch. However, that is not always the case. Even in vehicles equipped with airbags, accident victims may end up with some injuries. Some of those injuries are caused by the very thing that was supposed to protect them — airbags.
Airbag Safety
In most cases, airbags do what they should. In some rare cases, airbags may deploy without warning or send sharp pieces into a driver's face or eyes. When that occurs, you must take action against the automaker or the manufacturer of the airbag. Most of the time, when airbag injuries occur during an accident, it's because the airbag is doing its job. That does not mean, though, that an airbag injury should be ignored. Airbag injuries would not have occurred had the other driver not caused an accident.
Common Airbag Injuries
The below forms of injury are not caused by an airbag malfunction. Instead, the injuries can be considered accident damage just as a broken leg or whiplash is.
Facial Injuries: Airbags can cause facial injuries due to the force with which they deploy. Facial injuries can include lacerations, bruises, fractures, and eye injuries.
Chest Injuries: Airbags can cause chest injuries due to the force of the impact. Chest injuries can include fractures, contusions, and internal injuries.
Arm and Hand Injuries: Airbags can cause arm and hand injuries, such as fractures or burns if the arms are positioned in front of the airbag upon deployment.
Hearing Loss: The loud noise that airbags make upon deployment can cause temporary or permanent hearing loss.
Neck and Head Injuries: Airbags can cause neck and head injuries if the head is positioned too close to the airbag upon deployment. These injuries can include concussions, neck sprains, and whiplash.
Respiratory Injuries: Airbags can cause respiratory injuries due to the dust and chemicals that are released upon deployment. These injuries can include asthma, coughing, and other respiratory problems.
Psychological Injuries: Being involved in a car accident and experiencing airbag deployment can also lead to psychological injuries, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression.
It is important to seek medical attention immediately following an accident to ensure that any injuries are properly diagnosed and treated. To be paid for your airbag injuries along with all your other forms of injury, speak to a personal injury lawyer at a firm such as Farrar Hennesy & Tanner LLC.
