Airbags are designed to lessen the chance of dying in an accident. They accomplish this by shielding the dashboard or steering wheel from impact during a crash. When the front car’s sensors identify a frontal collision, these nylon bags can deploy in a split second. Airbags can deploy in collisions that happen at 8 to 14 mph or more, according to safercar.gov. During a crash, injuries can be sustained, including airbag burns and other harm.
People are often aware of airbag injuries involving damage brought on by coming into contact with the airbag as it deploys. However, high-temperature chemical burns can occasionally accompany airbag injuries. Because airbags include chemicals like sodium hydroxide, this might happen.
The hot gas can harm people in the following ways if the bag is not adequately filtered or vented:
- Skin burns from chemicals
- Indirect burns from melted items like clothes
- Injuries brought on by breathing in dangerous hot gasses
- Numerous additional connected injuries
The chest, neck, face, eyes, and other exposed body parts are susceptible to these kinds of wounds. As a result, they may cause severe illnesses and injuries.
Why Do Airbag Injuries Occur?
For a number of reasons, airbags are dangerous. There is a chemical called sodium azide found in many airbag inflators. The gas that is used to inflate the airbag is made of this material. The sodium azide should change into nitrogen gas when the airbag inflates. Nitrogen gas poses no threat. In the event that sodium azide escapes the airbag, hydrazoic acid is the resultant substance. Both released hydrazoic acid and sodium azide are poisonous. Anyone who breathes either material can get sick.
Fundamental physical laws likewise explain the reason why airbags cause injuries. The steering wheel’s horn pad houses the driver’s seat airbag. It is securely situated in the center of the wheel, where the driver’s hands are resting. Therefore, a driver may sustain wrist or arm injuries when the airbag deploys.
When they work properly, airbags quickly and violently deploy. The speed of the deployment can cause a motorist to suffer catastrophic injuries if they are not wearing a lap or shoulder seat belt, from minor friction burns to serious injuries, including damaged retinas and impact deaths.
It is rare for an airbag manufacturing defect—whether an inflator, sensor or another mechanical issue—to result in an injury. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) claims that 24 deaths worldwide have been associated with Takata corporation-only defective airbags.
The NHTSA claims that Takata inflator explosions have wounded at least 250 persons in the United States as a result of improper airbag manufacturing (azide and non-azide). Takata airbags in almost 10 million vehicles have been recalled, keeping that number from rising considerably higher. The recall was caused by a problem with how these airbags were made.
Who Can Be Held Responsible for Chemical Burn Injuries from Airbags?
Airbag chemical burn injuries can be complicated. These kinds of injuries could result in multiple parties being held accountable. An airbag’s maker may occasionally be held responsible for injuries the device causes. For instance, they might be held accountable if a flaw results in consumer injury. An illustration of this is when the airbag’s venting mechanism has a flaw that makes it more likely to result in a chemical burn condition.
Other parties may be held accountable for chemical burn injuries caused by airbags. For instance, if a mechanic carelessly repairs an automobile’s airbag and their error results in an airbag chemical burn injury, they may be held accountable.
What are the Legal Recourses for a Chemical Burn Claim in an Airbag?
Injury from an airbag may warrant legal action. In such circumstances, a monetary damages award will typically be the legal remedy. The losses can include expenses for pain and suffering, hospital bills, medical bills, any lost wages from missed work, property damage, and other expenses.
If a certain airbag or car model is deemed harmful to customers, an airbag recall may occasionally be declared.
Further Harm Brought on by Airbags
Most cars include airbags, which are balloons located inside the steering wheel. When the car is in a collision, they are intended to deploy. The bag blows open from its casing, striking the driver.
The driver’s chest and head absorb the majority of the force. The most frequent injuries are bruises and abrasions, primarily to the face, neck, and arms.
Damage to the Head and Neck Caused by Airbag Deployment
The face trauma, TMJ, and cervical injuries that result from an airbag are the most typical head and neck injuries. Airbags have been shown to lower the number of severe head injuries significantly but not completely eliminate them.
Due to the fact that the face receives the majority of the blow, eye injuries such as corneal abrasions are frequent. Some individuals experienced orbital fractures and retinal detachments.
Hearing loss and tinnitus (ear ringing) have both been linked to the sound of the airbag explosion, which can harm the ears.
Airbags have greatly reduced the severity of head injuries suffered by drivers and passengers in auto accidents, but they haven’t decreased the overall number of head injuries.
Chest Injuries Brought on by Airbag Deployment
Airbag deployments frequently result in reports of chest injuries, some of which involve rib fractures and even cardiovascular system impairment.
Airbags bring on significant chest injuries. The explosive power of airbags and related chemicals can cause chemical burns and blunt-force chest injuries to the driver or passengers. Sternal fractures and other injuries to the chest wall should be examined.
Leg and Arm Injuries Brought on by the Deployment of an Airbag
The shoulders and forearms of the victim’s limbs typically sustain the most damage.
Dislocations, burns, and fractures are among the injuries. Very little research suggests that an airbag could hurt a victim’s legs.
Should I Get Legal Assistance for an Airbag Chemical Burn Case?
Automobile injury claims may be subject to a number of intricate legal requirements. If you need assistance with a case, you might choose to consult a local liability attorney in your region. Your lawyer can represent you in court and give you legal counsel and guidance for your case.
A court may certify the potential case as a class action proceeding if a sufficient number of people claim to have been harmed by the same allegedly defective airbag in the same way and with the same alleged flaw. Every person who alleges to have been harmed is a plaintiff in a class action. The class representatives are the people who file the lawsuit. The representatives get paid a set amount if the class wins. Other class members typically receive an equal distribution of the remaining damages.
Usually, the class representative works on a contingency fee basis. This means that the lawyer will be paid a certain portion of the damages as the attorney’s fee if (and only if) the class wins. The class representatives and other class members receive the remaining damages. Losses that have a monetary value make up damages.
You don’t have to face your airbag injury case by yourself. Find the right lawyer for your airbag injury needs on LegalMatch today.
