Seek Financial Restitution After An Airbag Malfunction
According the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are millions of airbag recalls each year. Recently, Takata airbags have been under recall because some of these airbags are reported to have exploded when deployed, which can cause serious bodily injury and even death. These airbags have affected multiple major auto brands that include Honda, Toyota, Mazda, Nissan, BMW, as well as General Motors.
Vehicle Airbag Safety
With the invention of the airbag, motorists and vehicle passengers alike count on additional vehicle safety while on the road. Airbags can help those in the front seats from striking the wheel, windshield, or dashboard in the event of an accident. Some cars are also equipped with side bags, which can help in the event of a side impact or rollover. Airbags have been attributed to saving the lives of vehicle drivers and passengers for many years. Unfortunately, airbags are sometimes the cause of serious injury.
Vehicle Airbag Malfunction
Although the majority of consumers might believe that motor vehicle airbags are soft, light, and airy, there is in fact little to no gentleness when it comes to a deployed airbag. Upon vehicle impact, airbags are deployed very quickly and forcibly; and this sheer force alone has been known to cause bodily harm. With additional product malfunction, these airbags can put those in a vehicle in great danger of catastrophic injury or even death.
Potential Injuries Caused By Airbag Malfunction
When it comes to airbag-related injury, there are many ways in which a person can become injured, and there are many parts of a person’s body that can be exposed to an airbag. Many of the most common injuries happen due to the force or rapidity in which the airbag has been deployed. The following are some of the most common types of airbag-related injuries:
Face Injuries – A person’s face is the easiest target upon impact. When a person is struck by a deployed airbag, the force can injure a person’s face, nose, mouth, and eyes, which can sometimes result in temporary or even permanent blindness!
Chest Injuries – One of the main purposes of an airbag is to prevent a person from slamming into the steering wheel, dashboard or windshield, or from being ejected from a car. In order for the airbag to prevent this, however, the airbag will need to be deployed really fast towards the occupant while that person is being thrown forward upon impact. There are many people who have suffered damage to their upper body soft tissue as well as broken bones as a result of deployed airbags.
Neck or Back Injuries – Similar to chest injuries, people can suffer neck or back injuries due to airbag deployment. Neck or back injuries can be extremely painful and can also result in permanent damage or disability.
Speak To a Knowledgeable Attorney
We expect that companies never intentionally put a defective airbag on the market to harm somebody. In spite of this, however, defective airbags and malfunctions do occur, and these can ultimately lead to extremely serious bodily injuries and death! Those who have suffered injuries because of a defective airbag have the legal right to seek financial compensation from the product manufacturer or designer.
If you or someone you know has sustained an injury because of a defective airbag, speak to a knowledgeable attorney who has experience in handling personal injury lawsuits.
The attorneys at Heiting & Irwin have extensive experience in handling cases like airbag malfunction cases. Their knowledge and handling has led to successful cases where people were able to recuperate financially after an accident. When it comes to defective airbags, and similar cases, the State of California enforces strict time deadlines to file a lawsuit; so speak to a trusted attorney as soon as possible.
