Phoenix Airbag Injury Lawyer

Airbags are standard safety features in passenger vehicles. They are designed to protect vehicle occupants by cushioning the blow from an impact. Airbags are often the difference between a minor traumatic brain injury and a severe traumatic brain injury.

In Phoenix, Arizona, individuals involved in car accidents without airbags could face the risk of being ejected through the windshield, making survival in a severe crash unlikely.

While airbags remain a crucial safety feature, they can also lead to significant injuries when deployed during high-impact auto accidents.

Assistance from a Phoenix Airbag Injury Lawyer

The legal team at Gage Mathers Law Group specializing in auto accidents in Phoenix, understands the distressing aftermath of accidents involving airbags, especially Takata airbags. We comprehend the overwhelming nature of recovering from such incidents.

Having worked with individuals who’ve sustained serious injuries due to airbag impacts, our firm is prepared to leverage our experience to support your case. Reach out to our Phoenix auto accident lawyers for more details concerning your situation.

Our skilled attorneys presently represent victims of car crashes across Phoenix, as well as surrounding areas, including Maricopa County, Scottsdale, Tempe, Glendale, Chandler, Mesa, and Gilbert.

Airbag Mechanics and Potential Malfunctions

Airbags instantly inflate when certain threshold factors are met after an accident. Regrettably, not all drivers and passengers are familiar with their functioning, and some might be unaware of the potential for severe injuries and fatalities.

In the event of an accident, a sensor detects the collision and triggers airbag inflation. Automakers install airbag devices in various parts of vehicles, such as side doors, dashboards, and panels. Most cars are designed with airbags that inflate from multiple directions to cushion the upper body of the driver or passenger during a crash.

However, instances of airbag malfunctions leading to unexpected inflations can occur. Without prior knowledge of a malfunction, drivers might inadvertently cause accidents and sustain injuries.

Contact an Experienced Phoenix, Arizona Airbag Injury Lawyer When You Sustain an Airbag Injury

Our personal injury lawyers understand the difficulties you are going through and are here to help you. We will fight hard to get you the justice and compensation you deserve.

Contact us today at (602) 258-0646 for a free consultation.

Safety Recommendations for Airbag-Equipped Cars

For individuals driving vehicles equipped with airbags, several precautions can minimize injury risks. Given that modern cars and SUVs feature multiple airbags along the windshield and side windows, in both front and rear seats, understanding safety measures related to airbags is vital. These include:

• Always wearing seat belts in airbag-equipped cars;
• Maintaining a distance of at least ten inches from an inflating airbag;
• Recognizing the first two to three inches around an airbag as the ‘danger zone’;
• Acknowledging the high injury risk to children and small adults when seated in the front during airbag deployment;
• Keeping children under age 12 in rear seats;
• Using child car seats and booster seats for all young children wherever they sit;
• Installing an airbag ON-OFF switch to mitigate the risks of children and vulnerable adults sitting in the front seat.

Why Are Airbags Dangerous?

After an impact, airbags inflate quickly–at a speed of 150 to 200 mph. Airbag inflation occurs within 1/10th of a second. This means the airbag inflates with a lot of physical force.

This inflation force allows airbags to injure car occupants, particularly children and small adults. People of short stature are at risk of airbag injury because their heads are at the same level of the airbag. For children, immature neck muscles leads to less neck stability and immature spinal development allows for easier misalignment. Even with low speed car accidents, airbags can injure children who are inappropriately seated in the front seat. The severity of injury, generally, depends on the proximity to the airbag and physical build of the occupant.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that an inflating airbag can propel a child against the structures inside a vehicle, causing serious injury or death. Even rear-facing child restraints pose a risk due to passenger-side airbags, which is why it recommends against putting children in the front seat.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that the number of airbag-related injuries, including death, for children under 12 years of age has risen steadily since 1993.

What are the Injuries of Airbag Deployment in Children?

Children are most susceptible to airbag injuries. Their immature development and inability to protect themselves leave them prone to whatever forces hit them in a collision. The most common injuries are:

• Head and Neck Injuries;
• Whiplash;
• Facial Burns (from the hot nitrogen gas);
• Eye Injury;
• Concussion and mild traumatic brain injury.

What are the Most Common Injuries of Airbag Deployment in Phoenix Car Accidents?

Adults are not immune to airbag injuries. Many injury victims suffer:

• Head and Neck Injuries;
• Whiplash;
• Bulging discs in their spine;
• Arm and wrist fractures;
• Facial Burns;
• Cuts and bruises;
• Concussion and mild traumatic brain injury.

We’ve also seen injury victims who suffered severe injuries due to defective airbags, including:

• Eye injuries
• Cuts and lacerations
• Asthma attacks
• Electrical shocks
• Crushed limbs
• Burns
• Suffocation
• Paralysis
• Fatality

About the Author

Joseph D'Aguanno

Guided by the belief that being a highly skilled specialist in a narrow field is better than being ordinary in everything, Joseph “JD” D’Aguanno leads Arizona’s best personal injury law firm in Phoenix, AZ. Having extensive cross-training in pre-litigation negotiations and trial lawyer skills, with decades of experience, JD strives to provide clients with the most valuable legal services a personal injury lawyer can provide. Under his direction, Gage Mathers Law Group is an award-winning personal injury law firm providing aggressive representation to victims of a car accident, medical malpractice, dog bite, motorcycle accident, and other injurious events. Gage Mathers is trusted by thousands of lawyers and clients throughout the country because of their reputation for getting clients the maximum compensation they deserve.

Years of experience: Over 23 years
Bar number: 020421
Location: Phoenix, AZ
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