One type of car accident injury that often does not get much attention in the Lake Charles area involves airbags. These devices are a standard safety feature in vehicles. They are designed to provide cushioning to help protect victims from the impact of collisions and minimize the likelihood of life-threatening injuries and death. According to Popular Science, airbags have helped save more than 37,000 lives in motor vehicle collisions that occurred from 1975 to 2012. Unfortunately, the same safety feature that is meant to save lives is often a source of injury for some motor vehicle accident victims.
Motorists should understand that airbag injuries are possible in car accidents, especially if the devices malfunction or are defective. When issues occur that interfere with the proper deployment of an airbag, victims are likely to sustain the following injuries.
- Abrasions
- Bruises and burns
- Broken bones and fractures
- Concussions
- Internal hemorrhaging
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Vision and hearing issues
Many kinds of injuries can occur from airbags in addition to the ones listed above. Some victims end up with chronic and lifelong conditions from their injuries. Death is an outcome for some people who have injuries that are exacerbated or caused by airbags.
The severity and type of injuries airbags cause are dependent on a variety of factors. Severely injured victims might pursue product liability claims against manufacturers in accidents where improper airbag deployment occurs or fails to work. They might also qualify to file personal injury claims against negligent drivers who cause their accidents for compensation.