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According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), airbags (also known as "air bags") have saved more than 50,000 lives since their front versions were widely adopted in 1987. However, these devices haven't stopped injuries but have caused many.
Unfortunately, serious injuries and even deaths have been caused by sudden and forceful airbag deployment, as the energy required to inflate these devices quickly can harm people who are sitting or thrown too close to them when this occurs.
In fact, the NHTSA reported that nearly 300 deaths were caused by frontal airbag inflation in low-speed crashes between 1990 and 2008. Most of these fatalities occurred in accidents involving vehicles manufactured before 1998.
However, airbags have been re-engineered since their invention in the 1950s to prevent these devices from injuring or killing someone when they deploy. Does this mean they're safer now? Or are they still more dangerous than good? An auto accident attorney in St Louis MO can help with all these questions.
The Purpose of Airbags
Airbags have been designed to protect vehicle drivers and passengers if a severe accident occurs, as they prevent occupants from hitting the car's interior or other objects outside of it, such as trees or poles.
These devices are connected to sensors that measure impact severity. If the collision is severe enough, it'll cause the airbag to deploy.
Types of Airbags
Several types of airbags can be located throughout a vehicle, but these are the most common:
Frontal airbags: They're located in the steering wheel (driver's airbag) or behind the dashboard panel (passenger airbag) and protect vehicle occupants from striking other objects and parts of the car in a frontal collision. However, they don't offer protection against side impact, so they should be used with seat belts.
Side airbags: Located in the backrest of the seat, these airbags inflate between the door and the occupant, reducing the risk of injuries in side impact crashes. There are two subtypes: torso and curtain airbags. Since a curtain airbag deploys from the ceiling, it protects drivers and passengers against head injuries.
Knee airbags: In high-speed crashes, kneecaps can fracture. These airbags have been designed to prevent this. They're often installed in the lower part of the dashboard, just in front of front seat passengers' knees, and inflate to fill the space between their legs and the dashboard.
Inflatable seat belts: Although it's only available on select models, the inflatable seat belt can protect rear seat passengers by spreading the accident force over a wider area on their bodies. It works like an airbag, inflating when a collision occurs.
Besides the ones mentioned above, other innovative types of airbags have been created to increase safety. These are some of them:
Far-side airbag: This type of airbag inflates to prevent passengers from colliding with themselves during a side-impact collision.
Panoramic sunroof airbag: This device prevents vehicle occupants from being ejected through the sunroof during a rollover, offering protection even to those passengers using a child safety seat.
Seat cushion airbag: This type of airbag reduces the force exerted on vehicle occupants' abdomen and chest in the event of a collision.
External airbag: These innovative pieces of equipment have sensors that detect side impacts. If this occurs, the airbag deploys from the vehicle's side seat to absorb the collision energy. These systems offer additional protection. There's also a pedestrian hood airbag, which is an external device that deploys under the hood and covers the A-pillar and windshield, potentially protecting pedestrians in these accidents.
Injury Risks Associated with Airbag (or Air Bag) Deployment
Whether they're innovative external devices, inflatable seat belts, or head-protecting side airbags, these pieces of equipment have been designed to provide cushioning for some body parts or protect each occupant (or at-risk person outside the vehicle) in a specific way when a serious collision occurs.
Unfortunately, airbags can end up doing more harm than good, as their sudden deployment can cause extremely severe injuries. These are some of the most common:
Brain injuries: The force from airbag deployment can impact the head or face, causing injuries such as concussions, bruising, swelling, loss of consciousness, and memory loss.
Dental injuries: Although often overlooked, these injuries still happen and are potentially severe, as they can cause excruciating pain. The pressure of the inflating airbag can cause the teeth to get chipped, break, or be forcefully knocked out of their sockets.
Eye injuries: The shock of an airbag deploying can injure the eyes if a vehicle occupant's face is struck. Unfortunately, this is common and often causes corneal abrasions, hemorrhages, and a black eye. If the person is wearing glasses when the airbag deploys, it may break the lenses, potentially causing more facial and ocular injuries.
Fractures: Airbags must inflate quickly to offer sufficient protection to vehicle occupants in a collision, so these devices can reach speeds of between 100 and 220 miles per hour when deploying. This increases the risk of bone and soft tissue damage. Victims may suffer fractures in several parts of the face, such as the jawline, eye sockets, and nostrils.
These are other possible airbag injuries:
Burned torso, arms, and palms
Bruising and contusions on arms, face, chest area, knees, and internal organs
Bruises on the upper body, especially on the face, limbs, and chest
Wrist injuries and sprained fingers
Broken face, arms, ribs, wrists, and skull
Traumatic head injuries
Punctured heart, liver, spleen, lungs, blood vessels, arteries, and brain stem
Heart bleed
Skin irritation or airbag dermatitis
Throat irritation, coughing, asthma attacks
Ear injuries, including loss of hearing
Placenta rupture and fetal damage
Bleeding inside
Common Problems with Airbag Deployment
Unfortunately, airbags can fail due to a malfunction in the system, particularly in crash sensors, and result in serious injuries. The following are some examples of potential scenarios:
The sensor fails, causing the airbag to deploy even if there hasn't been an accident
The sensor doesn't activate the airbag during a collision
A sensor activates one airbag but not the other, so it doesn't deploy or this action is delayed
However, timing is crucial when these devices deploy, as the passenger's or driver's face will be excessively close to the airbag in a matter of seconds.
Airbag Safety Tips
Drivers should make sure that all people in the vehicle are safe, especially if these devices happen to activate. Therefore, they should consider the following guidelines:
Make sure all vehicle occupants wear seat belts
Keep seats at least 10 inches away from the dashboard and steering wheel
Use only the correct size and style of car seat for children and infants
Make sure children under 12 don't ride in the passenger seat but only in the back seat
Always buckle up
Make sure kids are safely buckled up before starting to drive to avoid distractions while on the road
Contact an Experienced Lawyer!
Airbags, often written as "air bags," have saved thousands of lives, but these devices can also cause severe injuries when deployed. That's why drivers are required to take the necessary precautions to prevent others from being injured. Powell Law Firm also has insight to right of way laws in Missouri.
However, accidents always happen. If someone has suffered an airbag injury, they should contact an experienced car accident lawyer at Powell Law Firm to understand their rights and learn about their legal options.