Understanding Car Accident Airbag Injuries

Car accident airbag injuries are an often-overlooked consequence of modern vehicle safety systems. While airbags are designed to save lives by reducing the severity of injuries during a crash, the force of deployment can itself cause serious harm.

These injuries can range from burns and abrasions to fractures and internal trauma—especially when the airbag malfunctions or deploys improperly.

In this article, our Chicago airbag injury lawyers will explain the most common types of injuries caused by airbag deployment, what leads to these injuries, who may be held liable, and how victims in Chicago can pursue compensation for airbag-related harm.

How Air Bags Work and Why Airbag Deployment Can Cause Injuries

Airbags are designed to rapidly inflate upon collision impact detection. Sensors within the vehicle detect a sudden deceleration indicative of a crash, triggering a rapid chemical reaction. This reaction fills the airbag with gas almost instantly. Unfortunately, the same speed and power required to protect occupants can lead to unintended airbag related injuries.

The Forceful Impact When an Airbag Deploys

An airbag inflates incredibly fast—between 100 and 200 mph.

This explosive speed is necessary to prevent occupants from colliding with hard surfaces, such as the steering wheel, dashboard, or windshield. However, this rapid expansion can result in severe injuries, especially if occupants sit too close to the airbag or fail to use seat belts.

Common Airbag Injuries Sustained in Car Accidents

Some of the most common airbag injuries include neck and spine injuries, broken bones, internal injuries, and more:

1. Facial injuries: abrasions, bruises, broken bones, and eye injuries, including temporary or permanent blindness.
2. Soft tissue injuries: Bruises, strains, sprains to your tendons, muscles, ligaments, and skin, and other soft tissue injuries.
3. Chest injuries: bruising, rib fractures, and even internal damage.
4. Neck and spine injuries: whiplash, spinal trauma, and potential spinal fractures and other injuries.
5. Arm/Wrist injuries: fractures and friction burns.
6. Burns: caused by abrasion, chemical residue, and thermal exposure.
7. Traumatic brain injuries: concussions due to sudden blunt force trauma.
8. Internal injuries: including abdominal injuries and respiratory damage due to inhalation of chemical residues from airbags.

Symptoms of Airbag Deployment Injuries You Shouldn’t Ignore

After a crash involving airbag deployment, victims should watch for symptoms indicating serious injuries, including:

• Neck pain or stiffness.
• Chest injuries, especially difficulty breathing or persistent pain.
• Facial swelling, pain, or vision changes indicating potential injuries to the face.
• Pain or numbness indicating spine and neck injuries.
• Dizziness, headaches, or confusion, common signs of traumatic brain injuries.
• Skin irritation or burns from chemical residue.

It’s important to note that symptoms of certain injuries, especially internal injuries, can appear hours or even days later. Seeking immediate medical attention could save your life.

Airbag Malfunctions: When Safety Devices Fail

Sometimes, airbag malfunction occurs. Airbags can deploy too aggressively, too slowly, or fail entirely due to faulty sensors or defective inflators. A malfunctioning airbag significantly increases the risk of severe harm to drivers and passengers.

Defective Airbags and Product Liability Claims

Defective airbags often result from manufacturing or design flaws. These defects can transform airbags from life-saving tools into dangerous hazards. The Takata recall is a prime example, involving airbags deploying with dangerous metal shrapnel that caused severe airbag injuries and even fatal injuries.

The Takata recall is one of the largest automotive safety recalls in history, affecting tens of millions of vehicles worldwide.

Approximately 67 million Takata airbags have been recalled because their inflators can explode violently during deployment, particularly after long-term exposure to high heat and humidity. These explosions have tragically resulted in serious injuries and multiple fatalities.

Due to the extreme risk posed by these faulty airbags, the NHTSA has issued urgent “Do Not Drive” warnings for certain vehicles at particularly high risk, urging vehicle owners to seek immediate repair to avoid life-threatening injuries.

Why Didn’t My Airbags Deploy During the Car Accident?

In some instances, airbags fail to deploy, like when our vehicle is only equipped with front airbags. Other common reasons include:

1. Collision impacts below the sensor threshold.
2. Faulty sensors not detecting crashes properly.
3. Manufacturing defects preventing deployment.
4. Specific collision types not designed to trigger airbags, such as rear or side impacts when equipped only with frontal airbags.

Safety Measures to Reduce the Risk of Airbag Related Injuries

To reduce the likelihood of injury, follow these safety tips:

• Always wear seat/safety belts correctly.
• Maintain at least 10-12 inches between your chest and the steering wheel.
• Keep hands at recommended positions (9 and 3 or 8 and 4 o’clock) on the steering wheel.
• Ensure children under 13 sit properly restrained in the back seat, especially in rear facing car seats, never in the front passenger seat.
• Some vehicles have the ability to switch off frontal airbags. Always check the status of your airbags to be sure.

What to Do After Suffering an Airbag Injury in a Chicago Crash

Following airbag deployment injuries, take these steps:

1. Immediately seek medical treatment even if you feel fine initially.
2. Report the accident to the police for official documentation.
3. Document your injuries and photograph the deployed airbags and car interior.
4. Look out for signs of soft tissue damage and other common injuries over the next few days to weeks.
5. Preserve your vehicle untouched, especially if you suspect manufacturing issues or malfunction.
6. Consult an attorney experienced with personal injury and product liability claims promptly.

Determining Liability for Your Airbag Injury (Driver vs. Manufacturer)

Liability in car accident airbag injury cases typically involves determining who is responsible for causing or worsening the injury.

1. If another driver’s negligence triggered the airbag deployment, that driver may be held liable for your injuries.
2. If the injuries resulted from defects or malfunctions within the airbag system itself, the airbag manufacturer could be held accountable under product liability law.

An experienced product liability lawyer in Chicago will thoroughly investigate the details of your accident to identify who holds legal responsibility for your injuries and damages.

Seeking Compensation for Damages in Airbag Injury Cases

Victims who sustain airbag injuries have the legal right to pursue compensation for various damages.

These damages include medical expenses associated with both immediate and future medical treatment. Victims can also claim compensation for wages lost due to missed work and pain and suffering related to serious injuries, permanent scarring, or disfigurement from facial injuries or burns.

Damages can also address the costs associated with long-term rehabilitation, particularly for significant conditions such as spinal injuries or traumatic brain injuries.

Medical Treatment and Evidence Preservation

Prompt medical attention not only ensures your health but also establishes critical evidence of your injuries. Additionally, preserving your vehicle and airbags without alteration is crucial if you suspect product defects, as this evidence supports your personal injury claim.

Why Hire an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer for Your Airbag Injury Claim?

Hiring an experienced car accident injury lawyer in Chicago is vital in an airbag injury case. Lawyers knowledgeable in product liability and airbag mechanics can:

• Identify and prove defects or malfunctions, including issues involving Takata airbags.
• Handle complex claims against powerful manufacturers and insurers.
• Maximize compensation by documenting all aspects of your injuries, from soft tissue injuries to neck and spinal injuries.
• Skillfully negotiate on your behalf, reducing stress during recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions About Car Accident Airbag Injuries in Chicago

Can a Properly Functioning Airbag Still Cause Injury?

Yes. Even a properly functioning airbag can cause injury because of the significant force involved. Airbags inflate extremely quickly—typically within milliseconds—at speeds of 100 to 200 mph. This sudden, forceful impact can result in injuries like bruises, facial injuries, abrasions, or even fractures.

However, these injuries are usually far less severe than those that the airbag prevents, such as catastrophic traumatic brain injuries or fatalities from direct impact with the windshield or driving wheel.

What if the Airbags Deployed Late or Not at All During the Car Accident?

If your airbags deployed late or failed entirely, it might indicate an airbag malfunction or sensor defect. Late deployment can worsen injuries by failing to prevent occupants from hitting interior surfaces first. Complete failure often points to defective sensors, electrical issues, or manufacturing defects within the airbag system.

The airbag manufacturer may be at fault. An attorney experienced in airbag cases can investigate the malfunction thoroughly, gather critical evidence, and help determine liability for your injuries.

How Can I Find Out If My Car Had Defective Air Bags (Like Takata)?

You can easily determine if your vehicle contains defective airbags, including those involved in the Takata airbag recall, by checking your car’s recall status online. Visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website and enter your vehicle identification number (VIN) into their recall lookup tool.

If your vehicle has faulty airbags, you’ll find specific recall details and instructions on the next steps. Dealerships typically offer repairs or replacements at no cost.

Does My Seating Position Affect the Risk of Airbag Injury?

Yes, your seating position significantly impacts the risk and severity of airbag injuries. Sitting too close to the steering wheel or dashboard increases your risk of severe facial injuries or neck trauma upon deployment.

Ideally, drivers and front seat passengers should maintain at least 10-12 inches from airbags, wear their seat belts properly, and position their hands on the wheel at the recommended positions (9 and 3 or 8 and 4 o’clock).

Children aged 12 and under should always ride restrained in the rear seat, especially in backward-facing car seats, away from active airbags.

Can You Get Chest Injuries from an Airbag?

Yes, airbags can cause chest injuries such as bruising, fractured ribs, or sternum damage due to the force of deployment during a collision.

Contact Our Chicago Car Accident Attorneys for a Free Consultation

If you sustained injuries from an airbag in an accident, contact our experienced personal injury attorneys in Chicago today. We offer free, no-obligation consultations and work on contingency fees, so you pay no fees unless we win your case..

Contact us today at (888) 424-5757 or through our form.

All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.