Airbag Injuries In an Oklahoma City Car Accident
Airbags have saved thousands of lives by instantly deploying in a collision to provide a cushion between a driver or front-seat passenger and the steering wheel or dashboard. Since the installation of front airbags, driver car accident fatalities and passenger deaths have declined by 29% and 32%, respectively. More recently, many newer vehicles have added side-impact airbags as well. Although airbags prevent fatal injuries, they can also cause significant injuries, particularly when improperly installed or incorrectly calibrated.
If you or a loved one has experienced an airbag injury, an experienced Oklahoma City car accident attorney can guide you through the legal process and fight for the compensation you deserve.
How Do Airbags Cause Injuries In Oklahoma City Car Accidents?
Airbags have calibrated sensors that carefully activate and instantly fill up with harmless gas in a collision. They deploy at an astonishing 200 miles per hour with 2,600 pounds of force before collapsing to allow the motorist to move freely. Even when an airbag functions properly, it can cause significant trauma to a motorist’s head and upper body. Injuries may be exacerbated if the airbag malfunctions due to the following:
- A manufacturing error
- A design defect
- Improper installation
- A miscalibrated sensor
- Deteriorated parts
- Unnecessary deployment
Additionally, an airbag is designed to work with a seatbelt. If a seatbelt fails to lock into place, it may allow the driver to come too close to the airbag during deployment, resulting in a more powerful impact and severe injuries.
Understanding Airbag Injuries In Oklahoma Car Accidents
When an airbag forcefully explodes outward in a collision, a motorist may experience injuries to the head, face, neck, and chest. Drivers sometimes suffer wrist and shoulder injuries when an airbag deploys while holding the steering wheel. Airbag injuries in car accidents can include one or more of the following:
- Head injuries and traumatic brain injuries
- Whiplash
- Orbital and nose fractures
- Facial, dental, and external head injuries
- Eye injuries
- Ear injuries
- Soft-tissue injuries to wrists and arms
- Shoulder injuries
- Clavicle fractures
- Chest injuries
- Rib fractures
- Chest injuries
- Fractured clavicle
- Shoulder injuries
- Lacerations, contusions, and abrasions
Facial swelling, black eyes, and broken noses are often instantly recognizable as airbag injuries after a car accident, but whiplash and chest injuries may present delayed symptoms. After an accident, it’s crucial to seek emergency medical treatment and request a full assessment to diagnose and treat injuries, especially for injuries with delayed symptoms, such as whiplash.
Liability For Airbag Injuries
After a car accident, an injury victim can seek compensation for damages from the at-fault driver or other entity that caused or contributed to the accident. When a car accident survivor suffers injuries directly caused by an airbag, they may be able to recover compensation through a claim against a liable party, such as the car manufacturer, the manufacturer of a defective airbag, the manufacturer of a defective seatbelt that failed to work properly in conjunction with the airbag, or the company that improperly calibrated, installed, or reinstalled an airbag. Manufacturers are under strict liability laws when their products cause injuries due to a design defect, manufacturing mistake, or marketing error.
How Can an Oklahoma City Car Accident Lawyer Help?
If you have received injuries after an accident, a car accident lawyer will carefully investigate the accident and pursue all available avenues for compensation for the injured client. When a motorist suffers injuries specifically from an airbag, they can recover additional compensation through a claim or lawsuit against the responsible manufacturer or a negligent installer. Call Dan Davis Law at (405) 930-4210 to speak to a car accident lawyer with experience in airbag injury claims to maximize your chances of a favorable result.