Airbags are critical in preventing severe injuries and death in car accidents, saving an estimated 50,000 lives in the U.S. since they became mandatory in new vehicles. Airbags reduce the likelihood of fatal injuries to drivers in head-on collisions by 29% and front-seat passenger deaths by 32%. Although it’s indisputable that airbags save lives, they also deploy at high velocity, filling with 2,600 pounds of force at over 200 miles per hour. Even when functioning properly, airbags can cause specific types of injuries; if an airbag malfunctions or isn’t correctly installed or calibrated, it can result in far more severe injuries. This is why it’s important to contact an Edmonds car accident lawyer for legal guidance.
How Does an Airbag Cause Injuries?
An airbag’s sensors are calibrated to register an impact and trigger airbag deployment in a fraction of a second. The airbag forms a cushion between the motorist and the steering wheel or dashboard. Some newer vehicles also have side-impact airbags. An airbag is designed to work in conjunction with a car’s seatbelt, preventing the driver from coming into too close contact with the airbag as it instantly inflates and then deflates. Airbags can cause injuries to the face, head, and upper body even when they function correctly, but the following conditions can cause exacerbated airbag injuries:
- Manufacturing mistakes
- Design flaws
- Improper installation
- Sensor miscalibration
- Deteriorated parts
- Unnecessary deployment (such as from a bump or pothole)
Airbag injuries can also occur when a car’s seatbelts malfunction or fail to work in conjunction with the airbag, allowing the motorist to move too close to the airbag during the crash.
What Types of Airbag Injuries Occur In Washington Car Accidents?
During a collision, an airbag inflates outward with incredible speed and force. An airbag impacting a motorist can result in injuries such as the following:
- Whiplash and other neck injuries
- Facial, dental, and external head injuries
- Broken nose
- Traumatic brain injuries, ranging from mild concussions to more severe injuries, like diffuse axonal injury
- Orbital bone fractures
- Cheekbone fractures
- Fractured jaw
- Eye injuries or vision loss
- Ear injuries or hearing loss
- Soft-tissue injuries to the shoulders, wrists, and chest
- Broken sternum
- Broken clavicle
- Broken ribs
- Lacerations, abrasions, and contusions
Airbags are meant to prevent traumatic brain injuries and other deadly car accident injuries; however, they also sometimes cause specific types of injuries or contribute to serious injuries in Washington car accidents.
Proving Liability In Washington Airbag Injury Claims
Washington’s pure comparative negligence laws require injury victims to file claims against the party or parties responsible for the accident if they seek compensation for their damages. An investigation by the involved insurance companies, and often an independent investigation by an injury victim’s personal injury lawyer in Arlington, results in percentages of fault assigned to all involved parties. This may include the manufacturer of a faulty airbag, a negligent airbag installer, or a reinstallation specialist who failed to properly reinstall an airbag after an initial deployment. Proving a negligent driver’s liability requires showing that they violated their duty of reasonable care to the injury victim, causing the injury and resulting damages. However, a defective product claim against a manufacturer doesn’t require proving negligence because manufacturers are held to a strict liability standard. Instead, a compensation claim against a manufacturer requires demonstrating that the airbag had a defective design, a manufacturing error, or a marketing mistake.
How Can a Washington Car Accident Attorney Help My Airbag Injury Case?
If an airbag caused you to experience a painful injury with medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages, you deserve full and fair compensation.
Proving a defective product injury claim following a car accident can be challenging. Contact Wells Trumbull to speak to an experienced car accident attorney who is ready to pursue all avenues for compensation for your damages.