Airbags are a modern vehicle safety feature that have been used in passenger vehicles since the late 1960s. They first became common in the 1990s, and front airbags became mandatory in all vehicles manufactured for use in the U.S. in 1999. While side airbags aren’t required, nearly all manufacturers include them to meet federal side protection standards.
Airbags became mandatory because numerous studies have shown that they provide excellent protection against injury and death in most car accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, airbags saved 50,457 lives in the U.S. between 1987 and 2017, which is particularly impressive because they weren’t mandatory for 12 of those years.
While these statistics explain why airbags are mandatory in modern vehicles, they don’t answer a very important question. How do airbags work? What is it about the design of this safety device that makes it nearly as important as traditional safety devices like seat belts and headlights?
Airbags: The Hidden Restraint Device
When you think of a restraint device in your car, you probably think of your seat belt. Every seat has one, and it is quite visible. Conversely, you can’t see an airbag when you get into your car, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t there.
Front airbags are installed in the steering wheel and the dashboard in front of the passenger seat. Typically, they are invisible and do nothing. Airbags are designed to activate only when your vehicle is involved in a collision.
Every airbag is connected to an accelerometer, which is a chip that measures acceleration and force. In short, it detects when your speed decreases rapidly. If that decrease is rapid enough, the chip determines that you were involved in an accident, and it triggers the airbag to deploy.
The airbag deploys due to a small chemical explosion. A massive amount of some type of harmless gas (typically nitrogen or argon) fills the bag, causing it to burst out of its casing. This causes the bag to fully inflate in microseconds. When the timing is right (as it is in almost every accident), the airbag fully inflates just as you are flying forward during an impact.
The power of the inflating gas in the airbag is so great that it deflects your body back toward the seat. This is particularly important in head-on collisions, where it can prevent you from suffering a catastrophic injury by flying out the front window of the car.
An airbag is a single-use restraint device. Once it has fully inflated, the gas starts to escape through vents on the side of the airbag. Typically, the bag fully deflates by the time the car stops. Even if your vehicle can still drive after an accident where the airbag deploys (usually, it will be totaled), a mechanic will have to install a new airbag to replace the used one.
Side Airbags
Side airbags work almost identically to front airbags, except that they are designed to prevent you from being ejected out the side window of your vehicle. Typically, they only deploy during side collisions because they could present a danger if they deployed during front or rear collisions.
Airbags Save Lives
While best used in combination with seat belts, even when you aren’t wearing a seat belt, an airbag can save your life. The sudden push back toward your seat can prevent you from being ejected from the car and can minimize the impact of whiplash in some accidents. This hidden restraint device may only work one time, but that single use could be life-changing.
Contact Joel E. Brown, P.C. for a Free Consultation
If you or a loved one were injured in a crash—whether an airbag deployed or failed to deploy—Joel E. Brown, P.C. can help you understand your rights and next steps. We’ll review the facts, gather evidence like crash data and airbag module reports, and pursue full compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and vehicle damage. Contact us today to get started on your case.
Your first consultation is free, and there’s no obligation—just clear guidance from an attorney who handles car accident cases every day. We are conveniently located in Peoria and proudly serve Peoria County, IL, and the neighboring communities.
Joel E. Brown, P.C
416 Main Street Suite 1300, Peoria, IL 61602
(309) 673 4357
Available 24/7