When a collision happens, the split-second deployment of an airbag can help save lives and prevent injuries. However, these vital safety devices can sometimes cause harm themselves. The force required to cushion a body during impact means airbags must deploy with tremendous power, leading to a range of injuries that require extensive medical care and may lead to lasting complications. It’s worth contacting a Cincinnati car accident attorney if you are injured by an airbag deployment during a collision. They may be able to help you pursue damages against the party liable for the crash or the construction of a defective airbag if safety flaws are discovered.
Facial and Dental Injuries
The explosive force needed to inflate an airbag can create intense pressure against a person’s face when the device is deployed. This violent impact often causes severe trauma to the face and mouth.
Victims frequently suffer broken noses, orbital bone fractures, and dental injuries including cracked or dislodged teeth. The abrasive surface of the airbag, combined with its explosive deployment, can also cause cuts and bruises that may result in permanent scarring.
Internal Bleeding and Organ Damage
When an airbag deploys, it can strike the chest with tremendous force. This sudden pressure can damage internal organs, leading to life-threatening complications. This impact may rupture the spleen, bruise the heart muscle, or cause lung contusions. Internal injuries may not show any symptoms right away but can be life-threatening without treatment, which is why it is crucial to seek medical care immediately after a car accident.
Broken Bones and Fractures
The inflation speed of an airbag can generate enough force to shatter bones. Drivers often suffer broken ribs and fractured sternums when they are struck in the chest. If they have their hands on the wheel at the time of deployment, they can suffer from broken wrists and forearms.
Soft Tissue Damage
Beyond more obvious injuries like broken bones and teeth, airbag deployment frequently causes severe soft tissue injuries. The explosive force can tear muscles, damage tendons, and cause extensive bruising throughout the chest and upper body. These injuries may take months to heal properly and may require ongoing physical therapy to restore strength and motion.
Neck and Spinal Injuries
The rapid deceleration combined with the impact of the airbag can cause serious neck and spine trauma. Victims frequently suffer whiplash, herniated discs, and cervical spine injuries. These conditions often create chronic pain and may require surgical intervention, especially when nerve damage occurs from compressed or damaged vertebrae.
Burn Injuries
Airbag inflation relies on a controlled chemical reaction that produces extremely hot gases and particles. When these superheated substances escape during deployment, they can cause chemical burns to exposed skin on the face, neck, and arms. Additionally, the high-speed friction between the airbag’s surface and the skin can lead to painful burns and abrasions.
Your Legal Options After an Airbag Injury in Cincinnati
When airbag injuries occur, victims have the right to pursue compensation for the harm that they suffered. Depending on the cause of their injuries, they may file claims against airbag manufacturers that produced defective products, at-fault motorists for negligent driving, or even vehicle manufacturers for faulty airbag installation.
If you want to file an airbag injury claim in Cincinnati, trust Monge & Associates to fight for you. We can guide you through every stage of the legal process so that you can focus on recovery and rehabilitation. Take your first step toward justice today—contact us at (513) 224-5591 to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.