If you’ve suffered an airbag-related injury from a car crash, working with an experienced car accident attorney is crucial. Those injuries can increase medical costs and make it harder to prove liability. Understanding these complications can help you take the right steps to protect your legal rights.
Traditional Auto Injuries vs. Airbag Injuries
Airbags are one of the most important safety features in modern vehicles. They were designed to reduce the risk of severe injury in a car crash. While airbags can prevent catastrophic harm, they can also cause serious injuries. And those can make accident cases more complicated.
Common Car Accident Injuries
Car accidents can result in a wide range of injuries, including:
- Whiplash and neck injuries
- Back and spinal cord injuries
- Concussions and traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Broken bones and fractures
- Internal organ damage
Airbag Injuries
Inflated airbags can also lead to serious issues, including:
- Facial Fractures: The force of a deployed airbag can break the nose, jaw, or cheekbones.
- Eye Injuries: Airbags deploy at high speeds. This can cause blunt force trauma or retinal detachment. It can also lead to chemical burns from the propellants used in the deployment.
- Brain Injuries: The rapid impact of an airbag can contribute to concussions. It can also make pre-existing conditions, like whiplash-related brain trauma, worse.
- Skin Injuries & Burns: Friction burns, abrasions, and chemical burns can come from the intense heat and pressure of an inflated airbag.
- Broken Bones: The impact of an airbag, especially when combined with the force of a collision, can cause fractures in the arms, ribs, or wrists.
These injuries can complicate car accident claims. They introduce additional medical concerns and require expert evaluations to determine liability. To help you navigate these concerns, it is important to have an airbag injury lawyer on your side.
Airbag Safety Tips: Preventing Unnecessary Injuries
While airbags are designed to protect passengers, improper use can lead to serious injuries. Here’s how to minimize the risk.
Proper Seating Positioning for Adults
- Always maintain at least 10 inches between your chest and the airbag.
- Keep both hands on the steering wheel at positions that mimic 9 and 3 o’clock. This can help to reduce wrist fractures.
- Always wear a seatbelt to prevent excessive force from airbag deployment.
Child Passenger Safety
- Children under 13 should always sit in the back seat to avoid airbag-related injuries.
- Use age-appropriate car seats and booster seats for younger children.
- Ensure that the passenger-side airbag is deactivated if a child must sit in the front.
Following these precautions can significantly reduce the likelihood of airbag-related injuries.
Why Airbag Injuries Complicate Car Accident Cases
It can be difficult to determine if an injury was caused by the impact of the crash or the airbag’s deployment. Insurance companies may dispute claims by arguing that the airbag injury was unrelated to the accident. A skilled Ohio car accident lawyer, like the team of Spivak & Sakellariou, can gather the evidence to establish the connection between your injuries and the crash.
A car accident airbag injury lawyer can help:
- Show that another driver’s negligence led to the crash and airbag deployment.
- Gather medical records that detail what caused the injuries.
- Work with experts to validate the full extent of the damages.
- Negotiate with insurance companies to ensure fair compensation.
Your Car Accident Attorney
Car accidents are scary. They can leave you with a feeling of uncertainty that your life will ever get back to normal.
At Spivak & Sakellariou, we understand the challenges airbag injury victims face. Our legal professionals have helped accident victims in Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia successfully navigate the complexities of airbag injury claims. Call us now or visit our website to schedule a free consultation with a car accident lawyer.
