The Effects of Airbag Deployment in Your Car Accident Claim

Bill Allen | July 19, 2022 | Car Accidents

Many factors affect your car accident claim. The severity of your injuries, insurance coverage availability, and liability assignment all impact how much money you can receive for a car accident case. However, many people never consider how airbag deployment could impact the outcome of a car accident claim.

Airbags Are Effective in Saving Lives and Preventing Injuries in Car Crashes

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), frontal airbags have saved over 40,400 lives from 1987 through 2017. Airbags are designed to deploy in moderate to severe car crashes. Therefore, your airbags might not deploy in a minor collision.

Airbags reduce the chance that your head or upper body hits the dashboard, window, or steering wheel in a crash. They work best when combined with wearing a seatbelt. Federal regulations require frontal airbags as standard equipment for all passenger cars beginning with the model year 1998 (SUVs, vans, and pickup trucks with the model year 1999).

When a car collides with another vehicle or object, a signal sent to the airbag’s electronic control unit inflates the airbag in less than 1/20^th of a second. Because airbags deploy with such violent force, a person could be injured if they are too close to the airbag or come into contact with the airbag when it first deploys.

Individuals Can Sustain Serious Injuries Caused by Vehicle Airbags During a Crash

Airbags cause injuries for a variety of reasons. Faulty or defective airbags increase the risk of severe injuries during a collision. Causes of airbag injuries include, but are not limited to:

The sensor fails to release the airbag when the car collides with another vehicle or object
The severity of the crash was not sufficient to trigger the airbag deployment
The airbag deploys too soon or without cause
The sensor fails to deploy the airbag during a moderate to severe car accident
A defective airbag deploys too fast or causes metal and other debris to become projectiles at the occupants
A driver or passenger is sitting too close to the airbag when it deploys
The vehicle occupants are not wearing their seatbelts

Airbags can cause mild to severe injuries. Some airbag injuries can be life-threatening. These injuries may not have occurred had it not been for the airbag deploying during the accident.

Common airbag injuries include:

Head and face trauma
Cardiac injuries
Loss of sight or hearing
Lung injuries
Spinal fractures
Eye injuries
Musculoskeletal damage
Contusions, abrasions, and lacerations
Soft tissue injuries
Neck injuries
Broken bones and fractures
Injury to the eye socket
Traumatic brain injuries
Damage to internal organs
Internal bleeding

Airbag injuries can significantly affect the value of damages for a car accident claim. If an airbag did not deploy correctly, you could have a claim against the airbag’s manufacturer or the vehicle manufacturer under product liability laws. Otherwise, airbag injuries can be included in the personal injury claim against the at-fault driver.

An insurance company for the at-fault driver might deny the portion of your claim related to airbag injuries. It might try to shift the blame to the vehicle or airbag manufacturer. Therefore, working with an experienced car accident lawyer who understands airbag injury claims is crucial.

Your lawyer investigates the cause of your airbag injuries to determine if the injuries were caused because the airbag was defective. If not, the airbag injuries are part of the overall car accident claim. Even so, you still need to prove that the other caused the accident and the accident resulted in your injuries and damages to recover compensation for damages.

Damages for a Car Accident Involving Airbag Deployment

An insurance company might offer a higher settlement amount if your airbag is deployed during the car wreck. Because airbags deploy in moderate to severe crashes, the airbag deploying helps support a claim for higher damages.

Airbag deployment can also support claims of soft tissue injuries, such as whiplash, torn ligaments, and muscle injuries. These injuries can be difficult to prove when they do not appear on x-rays, MRIs, and other imaging tests.

Damages from a car accident can include economic damages. These financial losses include medical bills and loss of income. Monetary damages include out-of-pocket expenses, diminished earning capacity, personal care, and nursing care.

In addition to financial damages, you can recover compensation for pain and suffering. Non-economic damages include physical suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. They also include a decrease in quality of life and permanent impairments.

Failure to Wear a Seatbelt Could Decrease Compensation for a Car Accident

The insurance company might claim contributory fault for failing to wear a seatbelt or failing to follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding using an airbag. The company might claim that your actions contributed to the cause of your airbag injuries and other injuries.

Under Florida’s contributory fault laws, the compensation for your damages could be reduced by your percentage of fault for causing your injuries. A car accident attorney can help you fight these claims to get the money you deserve for a personal injury claim.

Contact Our Gainesville Car Accident Law Firm in North Central Florida

If you need legal assistance, contact the Gainesville car accident lawyers at Allen Law Firm at your nearest location to schedule a free consultation today.

We have two convenient locations in North Central Florida:

Allen Law Firm, P.A. – Gainesville office
2550 SW 76th St #150
Gainesville, FL 32608
(877) 255-3652

Allen Law Firm, P.A. – Ocala Office
112 S Pine Ave
Ocala, FL 34471
(352) 351-3258