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How an Airbag Can Cause an Injury

Airbag injury

While airbags are designed to protect drivers and passengers in the event of a collision, they often do more harm than good. Due to the violent way in which they deploy, airbags can frequently leave accident victims with injuries above and beyond those directly attributable to the force of the collision. If you have been injured by an airbag, you are not alone, and you may be entitled to significant financial compensation.

Common Airbag Injuries

In order to be effective, airbags need to inflate in the blink of an eye. To do this, modern airbags are armed with chemicals that react upon impact to create an explosion that instantly inflates the airbag. In many car accidents, this reaction saves lives.

Unfortunately, it carries significant risks as well. In fact, hundreds of people have been killed by airbags over the past few decades, and countless more have suffered serious – and in many cases disfiguring and life-changing – injuries. These injuries can result from a number of factors, including impact with the airbag, contact with the chemicals that make the airbag deploy, and problems that arise when an airbag works improperly.

Injuries commonly caused by airbags include:

  • Abrasions and contusions to the face and upper torso
  • Bone fractures, including the skull and ribs
  • Bruising and swelling of the brain
  • Burns
  • Concussions
  • Eye injuries
  • Hearing loss
  • Internal bleeding
  • Lacerated livers and spleens
  • Loss of consciousness

At least one medical study has also pointed to a risk of hidden” cardiac injuries resulting from airbag deployments. The study warns that individuals who are involved in accidents where airbags deploy may be at risk for a variety of heart-related traumas, many of which will not be readily apparent to the victim or emergency responders. This is why we always caution accident victims to seek prompt medical attention – even if they do not feel like anything is wrong.

The Takata Airbag Recall

If you watch the news, you may have heard about the recent Takata airbag recall. Takata manufactures airbags for numerous car companies, and late last year it was revealed that a design issue with Takata’s airbags was causing them to send metal shards and other shrapnel flying throughout vehicle cabins.

To date, Takata’s defective airbags have been linked to eight deaths and numerous injuries, and this has led to the largest automotive recall in American history. More than 34 million vehicles have been recalled for replacement of defective Takata airbags. You can check the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website to see if your vehicle’s airbags have been recalled.

Contact Schwartzapfel® Lawyers P.C. about Your Airbag Injuries

In any case, if you have been injured by an airbag, our lawyers may be able to help you hold the manufacturer responsible for your medical expenses and other losses. To find out more about how we can help you win just compensation for your airbag injuries, call us at 1-877-737-4806 or request your free consultation in New York City today.

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