Airbags have saved thousands of lives since they became standard safety equipment, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, but that doesn’t mean they’re harmless. They deploy with explosive force and can cause severe injuries even when they work as intended.
The results can be even more harmful when they misfire or components don’t work correctly. If you sustained injuries from a deployed airbag in an Oklahoma car accident, you must understand how these safety devices sometimes cause unintended harm.
Airbag-Related Injuries
Common airbag deployment injuries include:
- Airbag-related trauma: While airbags protect against deadly harm, they often leave behind trauma that requires medical attention to identify the full scope of damage. The heat, chemicals, and speed of an airbag deployment can leave burns, abrasions, or swelling across the chest and upper body. These injuries may appear quickly after impact, even when the collision seems minor.
- Airbag fractures: The rapid inflation of an airbag can break bones when the body absorbs its full force. Fractures often occur in the arms, wrists, or ribs if the vehicle occupant braces for impact. Injury victims may also suffer fractures to the face from direct impact, particularly the nose, jaw, or orbital bones. These airbag injuries can complicate a crash victim’s recovery and often require specialized treatment or surgery.
- Airbag impact on the face and neck: The face and neck are highly exposed during airbag deployment. The heat from the airbag’s fabric and the explosive chemicals that trigger a deployment can cause burns, lacerations, or bruises. The eyes are at particular risk, with potential injuries including corneal abrasions or retinal damage. The jaw, nose, and teeth can also sustain harm. In some cases, swelling or injury to the neck from a deployed airbag can limit movement or breathing.
- Airbag deployment and whiplash: Despite their role in cushioning impact, airbags cannot entirely prevent whiplash. The violent back-and-forth motion of the head during a crash strains muscles and ligaments in the neck. These injuries often cause pain, stiffness, and headaches that may persist long after the crash.
When an airbag fails to inflate when it should, you can also face severe injuries to the face, arms, and upper body.
How Cain Law Can Help You Claim Damages for Your Airbag Injuries
Cain Law can guide you through every stage of an injury claim after an airbag deployment in an accident. We investigate how the crash occurred, review your medical records, and consult doctors and other experts to document the full extent of your injuries. We also establish who’s responsible for the collision and pursue fair compensation for your medical costs, lost income, and the crash’s long-term effects.
Finally, we communicate with insurance companies and defense lawyers to protect you from tactics that may reduce your recovery. We can handle your insurance claim or your airbag injury lawsuit. Our focused legal support gives you a stronger chance of recovering the resources you need to heal and rebuild your life.
Contact Cain Law’s Oklahoma City Car Accident Lawyers
Whether you sustained injuries from airbags that worked correctly or those that malfunctioned, you may have the right to compensation. Cain Law’s Oklahoma City car accident attorneys can investigate the collision to identify how your injury occurred and hold the responsible party accountable. You don’t owe us any fees unless you recover compensation, so call now or complete our contact form for a free case review.
