Airbag Injury
Additional Information
Airbag Injury Cases and Compensation
All new vehicles are now equipped with front and side airbags to protect drivers and passengers in an accident. The airbag provides a cushion by inflating when an impact occurs. In some cases, defective airbags have caused serious or fatal injuries, either by causing injuries when deploying, or by failing to deploy. These accidents, while rare, can have tragic consequences, particularly for child passengers.
Types of Airbag Accidents
When an airbag deploys, it may lead to minor, serious, or fatal injuries. The types of injuries caused airbags include:
Burns to hands, arms, chest
Internal bleeding
Sprained or broken fingers, wrists, hands
Abrasions, cuts, lacerations
Contusions
The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) estimated that between 1990 and 2008, over 290 deaths were caused by front airbag deployment. The majority of the fatalities were to a vehicle passenger, with more than 90 percent of the deaths infants or children. Federal rules were changed, and the airbags now deploy with less force – but these safety systems are not perfect and are still responsible for injuries and deaths each year. Faulty airbags have been the cause of serious injuries, which may be caused by:
Airbag fails to deploy: An airbag that does not inflate in an accident can lead to serious or fatal injuries as the driver or passenger is thrown into or through the windshield or impacts with the steering wheel or other inner structure of the vehicle.
Incorrect timing for deployment: An airbag can deploy at the wrong time, such as too early (no impact) or too late to protect the vehicle occupants from an injury.
Airbag released metal shrapnel: An airbag can release metal shrapnel and chemicals that cause burns, bruises, cuts, eye injuries, disfiguring facial wounds, and other injuries. Takata airbags were recalled due to these faults. Some vehicles may still be equipped with recalled airbags.
Traffic: Exponential Growth
Arizona is a heavily traveled state, with more than 7 million vehicles passing through the Phoenix area each year. The state has 66.1 billion annual vehicle miles traveled each year, or 181 million miles traveled on the roadways every day. Over an 18 year period, the population has increased by 40 percent, the third highest rate of growth in the nation. The vehicle miles traveled increased 34 percent, the sixth highest rate of increase. The transportation system in the state must serve state residents, and the heavy freight traffic using the highways, streets, and roads. The most traveled and dangerous highways in Arizona include:
Interstate 10: The main transcontinental route between Florida and California, Interstate 10 is the most heavily traveled route in Arizona.
Interstate 17: This highway connects Phoenix, Sedona, Prescott, Flagstaff, and the Grand Canyon, and is commonly traveled by locals and visitors to the state.
US Route 93: This highway originates near Las Vegas and ends north of Phoenix.
Interstate 40: A northern route through Flagstaff, interstate 40 connects California to N. Carolina, the original path of historic Route 66.
Interstate 19: Stretches from Tucson to the Mexican border.
When traveling on city streets, rural roads, or one of the most traveled highways in the state, your risk of an accident is higher than ever due to the sheer volume of traffic, among other factors. If your vehicle is involved in an accident, the airbags are a safety feature that can save lives, but may not function as designed. If you or a loved one was injured due to a faulty airbag, failure to deploy, or other problem, the responsible parties must be held accountable. Filing a claim against an airbag manufacturer requires specialized legal skills you can expect at The Husband & Wife Law Team.
Who is Liable?
After an airbag injury accident, all liable parties must be identified. The liable parties may include the airbag manufacturer, vehicle manufacturer, or both. These cases are termed “product liability” claims and should be managed by a professional in personal injury law, who will thoroughly evaluate all the facts and seek the highest level of compensation possible for damages from all liable parties.
Why Choose The Husband & Wife Law Team?
When you are a client of The Husband & Wife Law Team, you will be represented by talented and experienced product liability attorneys. When this legal team manages your case, you can expect personalized care, an uncommon level of personal dedication, and counsel that has decades of experience in product liability law, including airbag injury and death cases.
If you or a loved one was seriously injured in an airbag accident, you want an attorney with knowledge and experience, who will devote the necessary time and energy to your case. Attorney Mark Breyer is a certified specialist in injury and wrongful death law, one of fewer than 2% of all Arizona lawyers. For more information, you are invited to reach out for a free consultation. When we take on an airbag injury case, we represent victims on a contingency fee basis – no legal fees unless we are successful.