All modern cars are equipped with airbags, and many older cars have them as well. These devices are designed to keep you safe and prevent injuries that could be fatal. Airbags have saved more than 50,000 lives since 1975, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
While airbags do help reduce fatal injuries, they sometimes cause their own injuries. When an airbag expands, it does so through tremendous force. The impact of an airbag against a body can lead to injuries, most commonly to the arms, neck, and chest area. These injuries are minor compared to the alternative, but they still lead to things that may affect your life in many ways.
Whether you’re injured by an airbag or anything else in a car accident, you should consult with a Baton Rouge car accident lawyer to determine if you may be eligible for compensation.
Common Airbag Injuries
The airbag is designed to prevent you from impacting the dash, the windshield, the steering wheel, or other hard materials that could be detrimental. When the sensor in your vehicle detects a significant impact, the airbag is deployed using a gas that sends it flying out at warp speed. The airbag is used to save lives and cushion the impact, but your impact with the airbag may also cause less severe injuries.
Of course, if an airbag is defective or malfunctions, this could also be a major problem.
The most common types of airbag injuries are as follows:
- Injuries to the face or chest
- Injuries to the arm or wrists
- Injuries to your lungs
- Friction burns or airbag abrasions
- Broken bones
Whether your airbag was deployed from an accident or due to some sort of manufacturer defect, you may have a case to seek compensation for your injuries.
Care Following an Airbag Injury
If your injuries are severe, you need to seek immediate medical treatment and allow the medical professionals to transport you to the hospital. If you were impacted by the airbag, it’s a good idea to be thoroughly checked out to ensure there are no internal injuries you may not have noticed yet.
Allow the paramedics to help assess any injuries and clean wounds. If you do have first aid available to you, then you can clean open wounds or abrasions on your own and use bandages to patch up minor cuts or wounds. Using an antibacterial ointment is a good idea.
Ice packs or cold packs may be used for bruising, swelling, and burns. You should never try to force broken or fractured bones to move. Wait for paramedics to treat these injuries. If you have shrapnel or foreign objects in your body, wait for the professionals and do not try to remove the pieces. If you’re struggling to breathe, stay calm and just focus on breathing slowly.
You should not try to complete all of your aid on your own. The paramedics will be there to help you soon. Your goal is just an initial assessment and basic treatment. When you work past treatment, hire an experienced Baton Rouge car accident lawyer to help you seek compensation for the injuries you are facing.
