- Client ReviewsAirbags were first introduced in the early 1970’s as a supplement to seat belt restraints at the time of an accident. Airbags most often can help accident victims decrease their chances of being injured or how many injuries they may suffer. Unfortunately, they can also cause their own types of injuries.
Frontal airbags were the first type of airbags introduced and soon more followed including:
- Side airbags
- Knee airbags
- Center airbags
- Motorcycle airbags
- ..and more
According to the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) the use of airbags and safety belts was 75% effective in preventing head injuries and 66% effective in preventing chest injuries.
In 2010 Canada reported more than 170,000 people injured in car collisions, some of which may have been caused by airbag deployment.
If you or anyone you know has been injured by an airbag during a car collision, the victim may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, loss of wages, and more.
For a free review of your case by one our dedicated barristers, contact the law offices of Greg Monforton & Partners today by simply filling out FREE CASE EVALUATION form to your right or calling us a (866) 320-4770.
Common Airbag Injuries
Airbag injuries are often caused by the pressure of the deployment and the substances used on and in the airbag. Igniters and accelerants are used to ignite an airbag upon deployment. Depending on the car and model, the chemicals used may be sodium azide or guanidine nitrate which has slowly begun replacing the use of sodium azide, a poisonous chemical. Corn starch or talcum powder is also used to coat the airbag during deployment.
All these chemicals are only part of what may cause the following injuries:
- Burns
- Skin Abrasions
- Coughing Fits
- Eye Injuries
- Broken Bones
- Asthma Attacks
- Chest Injuries
- Wrongful Death, and more
Injuries may also be caused if an airbag is wrongfully deployed or when it failed to deploy in a serious car crash.
According to the NHTSA airbags have actually caused more than 170 fatalities in the United States since 1990, the majority of whom were children.
Preventing Airbag Injuries
Some injuries from an airbag are actually preventable. In the cases of children and infants, some drivers may choose to deactivate a passenger-side airbag if a child or infant seat is in the front passenger seat. It is highly recommend that drivers and passengers always wear seatbelts if they choose to deactivate an airbag.
According to Traffic Canada, fatalities from airbags commonly occur because the occupant is seated too close to the airbag. A few ways to prevent further injuries include:
- Move the front seats as far away as possible from the airbag to allow enough room for it to inflate
- Children under the age of 12 should be seated in the backseat
- If using an infant or child restraint system, or booster cushion, ensure it is fitted for the childs height and weight properly
- Never install a rear-facing child restraint system in a seat with an airbag
Restraint safety is of the utmost importance and all states and provinces require the use of seat belts and the proper child seats.
Contact a Windsor Auto Accident Lawyer
Airbag deployment injuries can seriously impair victims and in worst case scenarios wrongful death. If you or anyone you know is seeking legal counsel after having been injured in an accident where an airbag was deployed, our lawyers may be able to help.
The team at Greg Monforton and Partners have been helping accident injury victims since 1981 and can assist you throughout the entire litigation process. We are committed to protecting the rights of the injured and have an office located in Windsor where we provide our legal services to the following areas:
- Windsor
- Leamington
- Sarnia
- Chatham-Kent
- London
- Toronto
- and many more towns and cities
To get connected with one of our dedicated solicitors contact us at (866) 320-4770 or locally at (519) 258-6490 for a no-obligation assessment of your incident.
You can also reach us online by filing out the FREE CASE REVIEW form at the top right hand corner of this page its 100% free and confidential.