How Airbags Cause Burn Injuries
Airbags save lives, but they can also cause airbag burns. Explore prevention strategies and treatment options in our article.
- February 8, 2023
- By McCoy & McCoy
In the aftermath of car accidents, our law firm sees many clients with burn injuries caused by airbags. Airbags are designed to provide safety benefits, but in some cases can also cause burn injuries. Deploying airbags at high speeds and temperatures can cause serious, even life-threatening, burns to drivers and passengers. The chemicals and heat released during deployment can lead to painful airbag burns, including car accident airbag burns that may require extensive medical care.
In this article, we’ll discuss how airbag deployment can lead to chemical burn injuries and what you can do to help prevent them.
What Causes Airbag Burns?
Airbag burns occur when an airbag is deployed too quickly, reaching dangerous speeds and temperatures. This high-velocity deployment causes a burning sensation on the skin of drivers and passengers due to the extreme temperatures reached as the airbag explodes from its container. Also, when an improper installation or malfunction occurs in an airbag system, it can cause further damage by deploying off-center or at incorrect speeds and temperatures. This combination of heat, friction, and chemical reaction is what leads to a car accident airbag injury.
- Excessive heat generated by the inflation process
- Chemical burns from sodium azide or other propellants
- Friction burns from the rapid expansion of the airbag fabric
- Faulty or recalled airbag systems that deploy incorrectly
Common Airbag Burn Symptoms
Many airbag burns initially appear minor but can worsen over the following hours or days. Victims should seek medical attention immediately after a crash to properly evaluate the injury and prevent complications.
Common symptoms of airbag burn injuries include:
- Redness and skin irritation
- Pain or burning sensations
- Blistering
- Skin discoloration
- Swelling
- Facial burns
- Burns on the hands, forearms, chest, or neck
- Permanent scarring
- Infection in severe cases
Prompt medical treatment can help reduce the risk of permanent scarring and other long-term complications.
Can Airbag Burns Cause Permanent Scarring?
In some cases, yes. While many airbag burns are relatively minor, severe thermal or chemical burns can result in permanent scarring and disfigurement.
Facial burns are particularly concerning because they can leave visible scars that impact a person’s confidence and quality of life. Victims may require:
- Dermatological treatment
- Scar revision procedures
- Skin grafts
- Laser therapy
- Ongoing medical monitoring
The cost of treating severe burn injuries can quickly become substantial, especially when long-term care is necessary.
Type of Burn Injuries Resulting from Airbag Deployment
There are two main types of airbag chemical burn injuries that can occur as a result of an airbag deployment: thermal burns and ballistic burns.
Thermal Burns:
- Thermal burns result from the hot air of an airbag’s rapid inflation.The intense heat can cause redness, blistering, and deep tissue damage, especially to the face, chest, and arms. Airbag burn victims often describe this type of car accident airbag burn as feeling like scaling steam or direct heat exposure.
Ballistic Burns:
- Ballistic burns are caused by physical pressure or scratches from small particles within the airbag or against the driver or passenger. These airbag related injuries can cause abrasions, lacerations, and bruising – often appearing alongside airbag burns from heat and chemicals.
When Is an Airbag Injury the Result of a Defective Airbag?
Not every airbag injury means the airbag was defective. Some injuries occur despite the airbag functioning properly because of the tremendous force involved in deployment.
However, a defective airbag may be responsible when:
- The airbag deploys without a collision
- The airbag fails to deploy during a crash
- The airbag deploys with excessive force
- Defective components cause shrapnel injuries
- The airbag system was subject to a manufacturer recall
- Sensors malfunction and trigger improper deployment
In these situations, injured victims may have both a car accident claim and a product liability claim against the manufacturer.
Understanding the Takata Airbag Recall
One of the largest automotive recalls in history involved defective Takata airbags. These airbags were found to contain inflators that could rupture during deployment and send metal fragments into vehicle occupants.
The recall affected millions of vehicles across numerous manufacturers and resulted in serious injuries and fatalities worldwide.
If an airbag injury occurred in a vehicle subject to an airbag recall, it is important to preserve the vehicle and consult with an attorney immediately.
If you suffered burn injuries or other harm caused by a defective airbag, you may have grounds to pursue an airbag burn lawsuit against the manufacturer or other responsible parties. If your injury occurred in a vehicle subject to an airbag recall, it is important to preserve the vehicle and consult with an attorney as soon as possible. Early investigation can be critical to identifying defects, preserving evidence, and protecting your right to seek compensation.
Who Is at Risk for Burn Injuries from an Airbag Deployment?
Anyone near a deployed airbag can suffer a car accident airbag injury, but certain individuals face greater risks:
- Drivers and front-seat passengers that are sitting too close to the steering wheel or dashboard
- Children and elderly passengers, whose smaller body frames place them closer to the airbag mechanism
- Individuals with preexisting medical conditions that make them more susceptible to force or shock
- Occupants of older vehicles with outdated or recalled airbag systems
Even when wearing a seatbelt, proximity to the airbag and deployment angle can significantly affect airbag burn severity.
Protecting Yourself From Airbag Burns
The best way to protect yourself from airbag burns from car accidents is to always make sure you are in the correct seating position with the seat belt securely fastened. In addition, ensure that the correct airbag systems are in place and functioning correctly. You may also want to consider purchasing an airbag safety cushion available for some vehicles. Finally, pay close attention to any recalls or bulletin notices issued by the vehicle manufacturer as these can help identify potential problems early on before they cause serious injury.
What To Do After Suffering an Airbag Burn Injury
If you or someone you know has suffered from burn injuries as a result of an airbag deploying, it is important to take immediate medical action. Burn injuries can be extremely serious and should not be taken lightly. Even mild burns can worsen without prompt care. After seeking medical attention, document the injury by taking photos of the burns, bruises, and vehicle damage. Contact a burn injury lawyer at McCoy & McCoy to help you investigate whether the airbag malfunctioned, identify responsible parties, and help you recover compensation for your pain and suffering, medical expenses, and lost wages.
At McCoy & McCoy, our car accident attorneys will contact your vehicle manufacturer or dealer to report the incident and determine whether a defect contributed to your car accident airbag burn injury.
Compensation Available After an Airbag Burn Injury
Victims who suffer airbag burn injuries after a Connecticut car accident may be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical treatment
- Burn treatment and rehabilitation
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement
The value of a claim often depends on the severity of the burns, the location of the injuries, and whether permanent scarring or disability results.
Speak With a Connecticut Car Accident Attorney
Airbag burn injuries can be painful, traumatic, and far more serious than many people realize. Whether your injuries were caused by the force of airbag deployment, a defective airbag system, or another driver’s negligence, it is important to understand your legal rights.
At McCoy & McCoy, our Connecticut car accident lawyers help injury victims pursue compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and permanent scarring resulting from airbag-related injuries. We serve clients throughout Connecticut from our offices in Hartford, New Haven, and Torrington, and we offer free consultations.
If you suffered an airbag burn injury after a crash, contact McCoy & McCoy today to discuss your case and learn how we may be able to help.
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