There appears to be sufficient evidence that airbags can reduce the risk of severe injuries in automobile accidents. Front airbags have saved more than 50,000 lives over a 30-year period. Because frontal airbags can reduce the risk of death and injury in an accident, the federal government has required frontal airbags as standard equipment in all passenger vehicles since 1998 and vans, SUVs, and passenger trucks since 1999.
Airbag Deployment During a Car Accident in Austin, Texas
Your airbag going off during a car accident could help your Austin car accident claim. Airbags are designed to deploy in moderate to severe collisions.
Therefore, if your airbag deploys, the insurance adjuster might treat your insurance claim more seriously. An insurance company reviews the details of a car accident while investigating a claim. They consider whether the airbags deployed as they evaluate claims.
However, it is essential to note that an airbag might not deploy even though it should have. Although airbags are designed to prevent injuries, a person could be seriously hurt when an inflated airbag hits them.
What Happens if My Airbag Did Not Deploy in an Austin Car Accident?
Some airbags fail to deploy because they are defective. However, that is not the only reason your airbags didn’t deploy during your car accident.
Airbag deployment is controlled by software and sensors. The software controls what happens when the sensors send a signal that indicates a collision. Several factors impact whether a sensor activates an airbag, including:
- The direction of the impact
- The speed of the vehicles when they collide
- The crash sensor location
- The design of a particular airbag
- Faulty sensors
- A smaller person or child sitting in the front seat
- Defective airbags
Minor fender benders might not engage airbags. Seatbelts are generally sufficient to prevent some injuries. However, you could still sustain neck injuries, back injuries, whiplash, and seatbelt syndrome, resulting in financial losses, pain, and suffering.
If an insurance adjuster downplays your damages because the airbags did not deploy, do not accept a settlement offer. Instead, talk with an Austin car accident lawyer.
An attorney investigates the crash to determine the cause, including why the airbags did not deploy. There could be several reasons why your airbags did not deploy that have nothing to do with the severity of the crash.
Airbag Deployment Can Cause Injuries in an Austin Car Accident
An airbag inflates in about 1/20 of a second. There is a significant force behind the inflation.
Therefore, being hit by an airbag can hurt. Airbags can also cause injuries or contribute to the severity of injuries in a car accident.
Common airbag injuries in a car crash include:
- Lung injuries
- Facial injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Traumatic brain injury
- Hearing and/or vision loss
- Exposure to toxic chemicals
- Broken bones and fractures
- Soft tissue injuries
- Chest injuries
- Neck injuries and whiplash
- Lacerations and abrasions
- Internal bleeding
- Back injuries
- Cardiac injuries
Airbag injuries can occur because a person was sitting too close to the airbags when they deployed, or if the person sitting in the seat is of small stature. An airbag can cause injury if it is defective and deploys incorrectly or fails to deploy during a crash. Additionally, failing to wear a seatbelt can increase the risk of airbag injury.
In some cases, airbag injuries are a consequence of a car accident. Prompt medical treatment is strongly recommended after a car crash. A doctor can examine you and run tests to diagnose your injuries and help determine the cause of the injuries.
Who Is Liable for Airbag Injuries Caused by an Austin Car Accident?
When airbag injuries result from a car crash, the driver who caused the accident can be held liable for the injuries and damages. You can file an insurance claim against the driver’s liability insurance coverage. If the insurance company refuses to pay a fair amount for your economic and non-economic damages, you can file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver.
Defective airbags can result in product liability claims against the manufacturer and other responsible parties. The manufacturer and other at-fault parties could be held strictly liable for damages caused by the defective airbag. Strict liability cases do not require evidence proving negligence or intent to injure for the injured party to recover compensation for damages.
The Texas statute of limitations to file an airbag injury claim depends on several factors, including the type of claim and the parties involved. Seeking prompt legal advice from an Austin personal injury attorney can help you avoid having your lawsuit dismissed because you missed a filing deadline.
Contact Our Car Accident Law Firm in Austin, TX
If you’ve been injured in an accident in Austin and need legal help, contact our Austin car accident lawyers at FVF Law to schedule a free consultation with our team.
FVF Law Firm – Injury & Wrongful Death Lawyers
3101 Bee Caves Rd #301, Austin, TX 78746, United States
(512) 982-9328
