Airbags are meant to reduce the risk of injury and save lives – and they do, for the most part. However, the impact between a car accident victim and an airbag could be enough to cause injuries, as well. Find out if you are eligible for financial compensation after suffering an airbag injury in a San Antonio motor vehicle accident by contacting an attorney near you.
What Are Airbag Injuries?
Airbags are designed to prevent serious injuries in car accidents by rapidly expanding an inflatable bag to cushion the victim’s impact with structures inside the car, such as the steering wheel or dashboard. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that airbags have saved an estimated 50,000 lives over a 30-year period.
Airbags are one of the most important safety features invented in the automotive industry. However, they are also behind certain injuries suffered by car accident victims. In some cases, the force of the impact between a vehicle occupant and a deployed airbag is enough to inflict injury. This is especially true if the occupant is a child or if the airbag contains a defect.
Most Common Airbag Injuries
When an airbag rapidly deploys in an automobile accident, it could strike the victim’s face or chest with enough power to inflict injury. Airbag impact injuries can include:
- Facial fractures
- Broken nose
- Clavicle or collarbone fracturesÂ
- Chest injuries
- Bruising or contusionsÂ
- Head and brain injuries
- Eye injuries
- Ear trauma or hearing lossÂ
- Organ damage or internal injuriesÂ
- Fetal injuries in pregnant women
If the victim is not wearing a seat belt when an airbag deploys, this can increase the severity of the injuries suffered. In addition, the chemical reaction used to deploy an airbag can potentially cause chemical burns, skin irritation, eye damage or respiratory problems.
Injuries Caused by Defective Airbags
If an airbag does not operate as the manufacturer intended, this increases the risk of airbag injuries. An airbag that does not deploy on time, that randomly deploys or that explodes upon deployment (as in the case of 67 million Takata airbags) can cause severe injuries or even death. In these cases, injured victims have the right to seek compensation from the manufacturer of the defective airbag through a product liability claim in San Antonio.
Can You File a Claim for Airbag Injuries in San Antonio?
If you get into an automobile accident and suffer airbag injuries, you can work with a San Antonio personal injury lawyer to seek financial compensation through a car accident claim. Texas law permits crash victims to seek financial benefits from the insurance provider of the at-fault party for all injuries suffered in the accident. If someone else is at fault for the crash, he or she is responsible for paying for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages associated with your airbag injuries.
When to Involve a Car Accident Attorney in San Antonio
Proving an airbag injury claim in San Antonio requires convincing evidence that the other driver is at fault for your crash and that you sustained one or more injuries as a result of the accident. Involving an experienced San Antonio car accident attorney can make it easier to prove the required elements of your claim.Â
Your lawyer will investigate the car accident, collect evidence and negotiate with an insurance provider while you focus on healing from your airbag injuries. If you have grounds to file a product liability claim against the airbag manufacturer, your lawyer can also help with this type of case. An attorney will fight to help you get the case results that you deserve.Â
For more information about an airbag injury claim in San Antonio, contact Hill Law Firm Accident and Injury Attorneys to arrange a free consultation.