Airbags have saved tens of thousands of lives by absorbing the body’s motion in a frontal collision. However, airbags deploy explosively, and a vehicle’s occupants can hit them with great force. Even when it functions properly, an airbag can cause serious or even fatal injuries in a Peoria, IL, car accident.
The health and financial impacts of these injuries can be significant. Fortunately, you may have a right under Illinois law to pursue compensation if you were hurt by an airbag in the state. A Peoria airbag injury lawyer from Joel E. Brown, P.C. can help you understand all your legal options after a car accident.
Contact us today at (309) 673-4357 for a free consultation.
How Joel E. Brown, P.C. Can Help After an Airbag Injury in Peoria, IL
Our founding attorney has over 30 years of legal experience fighting for accident victims in Peoria, Illinois. Over his career, he has recovered millions in compensation for injured clients.
Airbag injuries can be devastating. When you hire us after suffering such an injury, we can provide you with these key services:
- Gather information from you about your accident and injuries
- Analyze which parties may be liable and prepare your insurance claim
- Negotiate with claim adjusters for an insurance check
- Sue the party responsible for your airbag injuries
The liability for an airbag injury can fall on many parties, including the driver who hit you and the manufacturer of your car. Contact us to schedule a free consultation with an award-winning Peoria car accident attorney to discuss your options for seeking compensation for your airbag injuries today.
Airbag Injuries in Peoria Car Accidents
Airbags have three primary subsystems. A sensor at the front of the vehicle detects frontal collisions like head-on crashes. It is less likely to detect a crash into the vehicle’s rear, although it may trigger during a rear-end collision in some vehicles. Frontal sensors are not designed to detect side impacts or sideswipes.
The sensor triggers an actuator that uses a chemical reaction to produce a large volume of gas. The gas then inflates a vented cushion, and the vents allow the bag to catch the occupant. This slows the occupant’s forward motion without causing their body to rebound.
Airbags deploy in less than 1/20th of a second. This force can cause serious injuries, even when everything works correctly. Airbags can also malfunction, leading to injury or death.
The following injuries can result from airbag deployment:
- Bruises
- Lacerations and abrasions
- Broken nose
- Fractured facial bone
- Thumb sprain
- Neck strain
- Eye and lung irritation from the powder that keeps the bag dry and pliable
Additionally, defective airbags may deploy explosively, injuring the vehicle occupant.
Causes of Airbag Injuries
Injuries can happen whenever the airbag deploys. However, these scenarios can further increase the risk of an injury:
No Seat Belt
Airbags are not designed to operate alone. Seat belts slow the body’s movement so that the airbag only needs to catch the head. Without a seat belt, the vehicle occupant might strike the airbag with so much force that it deflates prematurely, providing almost no protection.
The seat belt also constrains the body’s movement within the passenger compartment. Without a seat belt, the occupant’s body might bounce sideways, causing injuries to the head, shoulders, and chest.
Vehicle Older Than 1998
Most fatal airbag injuries occurred before 1998. That year, vehicle manufacturers depowered airbag inflators under a new government regulation. Vehicles with older inflators may still deploy with so much force that they injure the head or neck.
Too Close to the Airbag
Short vehicle occupants, including children, tend to sit forward on the seat. At this distance from the steering wheel or dashboard, the airbag can strike them while it is still deploying.
This force can strike the occupant’s head, causing it to snap back. The strike may fatally injure the brain or spinal cord. Sensors and manual switches on modern models are supposed to prevent this.
Defective Airbag Inflator
A company called Takata sold millions of defective airbag inflators to auto manufacturers. These inflators used a novel chemical mixture that could explode in hot and humid conditions. Hundreds of people suffered injuries across the world when these defective deflators sprayed them with shrapnel.
Liability for Airbag Injuries Under Illinois Law
The liability for airbag injuries may fall on different parties, such as a negligent driver or the airbag’s manufacturer.
Negligent Drivers
Negligent drivers are typically liable for the injuries they cause, even if the chain of events leading to the injury is unlikely. Specifically, a crash victim can recover compensation for an injury even if it resulted from their vehicle’s safety equipment.
Airbag Manufacturers
Airbag manufacturers are strictly liable for injuries caused by their defective products. To prove liability, the injured person must prove that the defect existed in the product when it left the factory.
Contact a Peoria Airbag Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
You shouldn’t have to bear the burden of an airbag injury alone. With the right advocate in your corner, you can fight for the compensation you deserve to recover and move forward. Contact Joel E. Brown, P.C. today for a consultation with a Peoria airbag injury attorney.
