When you get into a car, you can significantly decrease the risks of accidents and injuries by adhering to traffic laws and driving cautiously. Wearing seatbelts can also reduce the chances of injuries or death. In addition, modern cars have an array of driver-assist safety features, such as lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, traction control, blind-spot monitoring, and rearview cameras. These tools can help protect you and your passengers. Airbags in Vehicular Crashes are another crucial element in a vehicle to keep you from harm. They became mandatory in all vehicles in 1998.
Thousands of lives are saved yearly thanks to airbag innovations. They prevent serious injuries by cushioning blows and keeping people in the vehicle from slamming into doors, windows, the dashboard, the steering wheel, and seats. Airbags come standard in the front and side of the vehicle. Other cars have rear-seat airbags and knee airbags. Though they protect you and others in your car, airbags can be the subject of personal injury lawsuits.
How Airbags Work
Not every crash will result in the airbags deploying. In minor, low-speed collisions, the airbags will stay in place. However, if the impact is between 10 to 12 miles per hour, airbags will deploy for passengers not in a seatbelt. For those in a seatbelt, the airbags will deploy at around 16 miles per hour. Upon impact, the airbag system will send a signal to an inflator. Using a chemical reaction, the airbags will inflate within 1/20th of a second after the collision.
Injuries From Airbags Can Occur
Though thousands of lives are saved yearly thanks to airbag innovations, they can also cause injuries. The severity and extent of the injuries can vary due to the type of accident and where the person is sitting. Many parts of the body can receive harm.
Face and head trauma are among the most common types of airbag injuries. The driver and passengers could also suffer neck injuries, traumatic brain injuries (including concussions), and broken or cracked ribs. Moreover, lung injuries, neck injuries, and spinal fractures can occur. It is also possible for Airbags in Vehicular Crashes to be responsible for internal bleeding, soft tissue injuries, or even vision and hearing damage.
Why Do Airbag Injuries Happen?
It may surprise or alarm people to know that airbags can inflict harm when their design is to help you avoid it. Unfortunately, airbags deploy at such a great force that coming into contact with one can hurt. Most often, an injury occurs because the person is not sitting properly in their seat. For instance, sitting too close to the airbag puts you at greater risk of injury. Small children, in particular, can get hurt by an airbag in the front seat (which is one reason young children should only sit in the rear seats).
In addition, some airbag injuries are due to malfunctions or defective components within the airbag system. The airbag sensor can fail to trigger upon impact. Or, the airbag may have gone off too soon. Another possibility is that the vehicle manufacturer incorrectly installed the airbags or made some other error with the airbags.
Investigating Airbag Failures in a Lawsuit
If you are injured in a car crash, you may have cause to hold the other driver responsible. Also, if your injuries came from the Airbags in Vehicular Crashes, you should investigate the cause, as you may be able to hold the vehicle manufacturer liable. A lawsuit against the manufacturer could be in addition to claims against another driver.
In a lawsuit against the company responsible for the defective airbags, your lawyer will carefully investigate the cause. The lawyer will check out why the Airbags in Vehicular Crashes failed to work properly or why they injured you. You may be able to seek damages for your injuries and the financial obligations you have to pay for medical care and treatment. You can also sue for lost wages and future lost wages if the injuries were serious enough to cause you to miss work. Non-monetary claims, such as damages for pain and suffering or emotional distress, are possible.
Airbags in Vehicular Crashes are an essential safety feature in any car. Their use can save your life and that of those riding with you. However, airbags can cause injuries. If this happens, a personal injury lawyer can review your case and determine whether it makes sense to pursue legal action.
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