Most Common Types of Injuries from Airbags

Airbags saved an estimated 39,976 lives from 1987 to 2012, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. These devices also lower the risk of hitting your head or upper body on the dashboard or other areas inside your car during an accident.

However, that does not mean airbags are 100 percent safe. Airbags deploy at an average speed of 100 mph and can be covered with dust and chemicals that assist in deployment. Hitting an object that is moving that fast could easily cause a personal injury, as could exposure to dust and chemicals on the airbag.

The chemicals that are used to inflate the airbag can heat up the device, possibly causing burns to the face or other body parts.

Deployment errors or malfunctions also increase your risk of injury. If the crash sensor deploys the device just a fraction of a second late, your head will be right in front of the airbag when it shoots out during a car accident.

If your car is equipped with Takata airbags, there is a risk of an explosion that can spray metal shards throughout your vehicle, possibly causing serious injury or death.

Common Airbag Injuries

While airbags are vital for crash protection, they can still cause serious harm due to their rapid and forceful deployment. Victims of airbag injuries in Texas often suffer trauma that can complicate recovery from an already devastating collision.

Common injuries include:

• Facial Trauma: The force from airbag deployment can cause deep cuts, visible bruising, and even bone fractures to areas like the cheekbones, jawline, or nose bridge.
• Chest Damage: Airbags can exert blunt force on the torso, leading to fractured ribs or soft tissue injuries. In severe cases, this may affect breathing or damage internal organs.
• Ocular Injuries: Debris or the rapid expansion of airbags can result in eye trauma, such as corneal scratches, chemical burns, or serious damage like retinal tears or detachment.
• Burns: The heat and chemicals released during airbag inflation can lead to first or second-degree burns on the face, neck, hands, or exposed limbs.
• Neck and Spine Stress: Sudden airbag impact can jolt the neck, causing whiplash, strained muscles, or exacerbating underlying spinal conditions from unnatural movement.
• Head Injuries: High-speed deployment can knock the head backward or sideways, leading to concussions, cognitive symptoms, or traumatic brain injuries that may not appear immediately.
• Other Fractures: Airbag collisions can break bones in the hands, wrists, and arms, especially if drivers or passengers are gripping the steering wheel during deployment.

Preventing Injuries from Airbags

There are several practical steps you can take to lower your risk of suffering an airbag injury if it deploys in a car crash:

Keeping Your Children Safe

Under Texas Transportation Code § 545.412, unless a child is eight years old or more than four feet, nine inches tall, he or she must be secured in an appropriate car seat according to the manufacturer’s specifications.

While not required by law, it is recommended that children 12 years old or younger never ride in the front seat unless the adult seatbelt fits properly.

You should also never install a rear-facing child safety seat in a seat that has front airbags.

While these safety tips can reduce the risk of an airbag injury, it could still happen. If it does, contact the personal injury attorneys at Anderson, Cummings & Drawhorn, LLP for a free, no obligation consultation.

These are complex cases and we know how to conduct a thorough investigation to determine who is liable for your injuries. Our goal is to obtain all of the compensation you deserve for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Call (817) 920-9000 or complete our Free Case Evaluation form now.