Each year, approximately 3,000 lives are saved as a result of an airbag following an auto accident. Since this safety mechanism is so effective, it is now included in most vehicles traveling on the nation’s roadways. Unfortunately, there are dangers that come with the use of airbags as well. When an airbag improperly deploys during an Atlanta car accident, the injuries can be catastrophic.
How do airbags work?
All airbags, whether they are front or side models, work on a three-part system. This includes:
- Airbag module, containing the fabric airbag and inflator unit.
- The diagnostic unit monitors the airbag system, activates warning lights, and contains a device that allows the airbag to deploy in the event that the car’s battery is damaged in the Atlanta car wreck.
- Crash sensors activate the airbags when they detect a large impact, such as a crash.
How can a defective airbag cause injuries?
Defective airbags turn this otherwise effective safety mechanism into a dangerous source of injuries for drivers and passengers. Examples of defects causing an inadvertent deployment of the airbag include:
- Faulty crash sensor
- Electrical short circuit
- Improper installation
- Poor construction
The inadvertent deployment results in the victim impacting the airbag at a speed of approximately 100 miles per hour. This force can cause numerous injuries to the driver or passenger.
What types of injuries are caused by faulty airbags?
Victims of a faulty deployment may suffer the following Atlanta airbag injuries:
- whiplash
- broken bones, including the nose, jaw, cheekbones, hands, fingers, or neck
- brain injury
- spinal cord injury
- eye injury
These injuries may increase the harm suffered during an Atlanta auto accident. If the faulty deployment occurred without involving a car crash, the injuries may be even more severe because the driver or passenger may have been in the process of adjusting the radio or navigation system. This could result in the head being closest to the airbag when it deploys.
Airbags are excellent safety features when operating properly. Unfortunately, when defective, they are very dangerous to Georgia motorists. If you or a loved one was injured by an airbag, you may be entitled to