Airbag Deployment Injuries in Arizona
Since having airbags in passenger vehicles became a requirement, airbags have saved many lives during serious auto accidents. Besides frontal airbags, car manufacturers have increased the number of airbags in cars to include airbags on the sides and at the back seat. Unfortunately, airbags can also cause injuries or worsen them. In Arizona and across the United States, injuries involving deployment or non-deployment of airbags during accidents are common.
Even a properly working airbag can cause injuries as airbags deploy with tremendous force. Injuries can also occur when an airbag fails to deploy at the right time, especially where the car occupant is not correctly positioned. Essentially, airbag deployment during a traffic accident can cause severe injuries to car occupants or even death.
If an airbag has injured you or a loved one due to someone’s negligence, you may be able to seek compensation for your injuries. In most cases, airbag personal injury claims involve multiple liable parties, including the other driver and potentially the car manufacturer or seller. Accordingly, these cases can be complex, hence the need to seek the help of a skilled personal injury lawyer when claiming compensation.
In Arizona, you can contact Mr. Barry Bellovin of The Bellovin Law Firm PLLC, a skilled and experienced personal injury attorney committed to getting you the compensation you need and deserve. Let him protect your rights as you focus on fully recovering from your injuries.
How Airbags Work and Causes of Deployment Failures
Airbags are not intended to deploy in all situations but rather in “more severe crashes.” A moderate to the severe accident is comparable to hitting a solid, immovable barrier at 8 to 14 mph or more or hitting a parked car of the same size at 16 to 28 mph. Front airbags often deploy in head-on collisions due to the high forces of these types of impact. Side airbags typically deploy in T-Bone collisions, rear-end collisions do not result in airbag deployment.
Airbag sensors register the range of force from the crash, and where the accident is mild to severe, an igniter releases a non-toxic gas that inflates the airbags. In these accidents, airbags usually deploy within milliseconds of the crash. Once airbags are deployed, you must replace them as soon as possible after a crash before driving your vehicle again.
Typically, some accidents do not trigger airbag deployment. However, there exist malfunctions where airbags deploy even in ‘small’ accidents or long after an accident, including in a slow-moving car. In such cases, deployment is likely to cause serious injuries. Failure to deploy or malfunctions during deployment can be due to several reasons, including:
- Defective sensors – Where a defect in an airbag sensor, including installation or design error, causes improper deployment, or deployment at the wrong time. Typically, airbag sensors record the force of impact before activating the airbags.
- Electrical malfunctions – With airbag sensors initiating or signaling airbag activation after an accident, an electrical defect can cause the signal not to go through. In such a case, airbags may fail to deploy or deploy too late.
Besides these malfunctions, a car occupant’s improper positioning, including sitting too close to an airbag, can severely injure them during deployment.
Common Airbag Deployment Injuries
Airbag injuries can range from mild to life-threatening, including:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Head and neck soft tissue injuries
- Concussions
- Bone fractures, including arm, leg and facial bones
- Spinal cord injuries, including paralysis
- Airbag burns, cuts and abrasions
- Chest injuries
- Lung irritation due to airbag deployment chemicals
- Eye injury, including blindness (caused by the impact of the airbag)
- Deafness
Recovering Damages in an Arizona Airbag Accident
There are instances where an airbag injury is not due to someone else’s negligence, including the other driver or the car manufacturer. However, when your injuries are due to another’s negligence, the law entitles you to compensation for your damages. Where an airbag deployment is not due to a malfunction, the at-fault driver may be liable for injuries caused by a deploying airbag in a car accident. Generally, when another driver is at fault for the traffic accident. They are also liable for, the injuries caused.
You can also recover damages from the car manufacturer when injuries are due to a defective or malfunctioning airbag. Since the manufacturer is supposed to be responsible for the safety of their product, you can file a product liability claim against them if an airbag design error, installation mistake, or any other malfunction caused your injuries.
Whether your claim is against the driver or the car manufacturer, you need to prove your case to recover compensation. It is advisable to seek the help of a knowledgeable and experienced personal injury attorney to help you navigate the often complex legal process and recover damages successfully. Some of the damages you can recover in an airbag injury claim include medical bills, lost wages, lost earning capacity, and other expenses.
Contact an Arizona Airbag Injury Attorney
Airbags are meant to protect you from injuries during a car accident. However, they are not perfect and may injure or worsen your injuries in a car crash. These safety devices are often dangerous if they malfunction, including deploying at the wrong time. Your airbag injuries may be included with your case against the at-fault driver.
While Arizona law entitles you to compensation due to another’s negligence, navigating an airbag personal injury claim can be complicated. However, a skilled and experienced airbag injury lawyer can guide you through the legal process as they help you recover damages for your injuries. If you are in Arizona, contact Mr. Barry Bellovin at The Bellovin Law Firm PLLC, He has experience with airbag injuries and other personal injury cases and will help you obtain fair compensation as you focus on your recovery. Contact our offices today to schedule a free consultation and learn more about our services.
Get a Free Consultation
Contact us if you want a personal injury attorney who has demonstrated a history of success, who will personally communicate with you at all stages of your case, and will help you manage and settle your case so that you can heal and put your life back together.
Are we a good fit?
- Did you suffer injuries in an accident that was caused by no fault of your own? – in other words, you are the injured party
- Do you or the other party have any insurance coverage (such as auto insurance, home insurance, or business insurance)?
- Did the injury cause hospitalization, medical treatment, surgery, or missed work?
- Did the accident happen within the last 2 years?
If you answered YES to ALL of the questions, we may be a good match. Contact us for a free case evaluation. We will discuss your options, and answer your questions regarding your personal injury case. Attorney Barry Bellovin wants to determine, by listening to you, how to best protect your rights and minimize the impact of an injury caused by another’s carelessness on your day to day life thus giving you the ability to focus on getting well.