Charlotte Lawyers for Airbag Injury Victims

Since their invention, the use of airbags has helped reduce car accident fatalities significantly. When a car collides with another vehicle or object, the airbags will automatically inflate to protect the driver and passengers from hitting their heads on the surrounding vehicle and prevent serious injuries. When airbags first came into use, they would deploy from the steering wheel and the dashboard.

Now, most new vehicles include airbags throughout the entire interior of the vehicle. When airbags work correctly, they can save lives and prevent serious injuries. Unfortunately, when airbags are defective or fail to work properly, they can increase the risk of injuries. In some cases, airbag defects cause additional injuries the victim would not have experienced had the airbag not been faulty.

If you suffered an injury from a defective airbag, you might be entitled to compensation from the motor vehicle manufacturer and the airbag manufacturer. The attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, have represented car accident victims for many years, and we are ready to help you obtain the compensation you deserve. Contact us as soon as possible to schedule your free initial consultation. We can review your case and advise you on your legal options.

In airbag injury cases, the airbags typically need to be examined by an expert to prove that the airbag defect or malfunction caused the injuries you suffered. It is important to speak to an attorney and investigate your airbags before your vehicle is repaired or destroyed. If you lose the evidence of the airbag defect or malfunction, you may not be able to bring a lawsuit.

Airbag injuries can result from many different types of airbags. In 1981, Mercedes-Benz introduced the airbag as an option for its S-Class vehicle. Since the introduction of airbags, there have been many innovations in airbag technology. Once a safety option only available in luxury vehicles, all new cars now have multiple airbags to protect their occupants. Some vehicles even have exterior airbags that will prevent pedestrians from becoming injured in a crash. Different airbags serve different functions and are triggered under certain conditions when the vehicle sends a signal to the airbags telling them to deploy.

Airbags can be located in the following locations:

• Knee airbag
• Rear curtain airbag
• Center airbag
• Curtain airbag
• Frontal airbag
• Motorcycle airbag
• Seat belt airbag
• Seat cushion
• Side torso airbag
• Side tubular or curtain airbag

Airbags inflate with a massive amount of force when they deploy. When airbags have a manufacturing or design malfunction, a total airbag failure can result in the airbag never deploying in a car accident. When airbags fail to deploy, drivers and passengers are left completely unprotected. In other cases, the defective airbag will deploy too forcefully, causing severe injuries to the driver or passenger’s chest, brain, and neck. Some victims of faulty airbags even experienced facial or nasal bone fractures from the airbag deployment.

Some defective airbags cause a delayed deployment. In these situations, the airbag will not deploy until after the collision. When a delayed deployment occurs, the driver or passenger could sustain injuries from striking the dashboard or the wheel with their head. After those injuries occur, they often suffer secondary injuries once the airbag goes off. The airbag deploying late is even more dangerous because the victim's face and head are typically very close to the airbag when it deploys. As such, they experience a higher amount of force on their face, causing more significant injuries.

Defective airbags can cause fatal injuries. Even when the collision occurs on the side or rear of the vehicle, when the front dashboard airbags do not deploy, the victims can become severely injured or even die from their injuries. Takata has been under scrutiny after their airbags allegedly released metal shrapnel into drivers’ faces and chests during collisions. As a result, the company must replace approximately 56 million airbags, and 15.9 million defective airbags remain on the road.

If you or a loved one has suffered an injury due to a defective airbag, you need an attorney who can help you through the aftermath. Contact the attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, today to schedule your initial consultation.

For your convenience and safety, we now offer video and phone conferencing. If you prefer an in-person consultation, we have three easy to reach locations in Uptown Charlotte, Monroe, and Mooresville. Contact us today at 704-370-2828 to learn how we can advocate for you.