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Airbag Failure

An airbag is a type of supplemental safety device that is designed to provide additional safety to passengers in an automobile during a any accident or crash. Although not intended as primary safety devices, rather as a supplement to seat belts and other safety features of an automobile, airbags reduce the chance that an occupant's upper body or head will strike the vehicle's interior during a crash. Both frontal and side-impact air bags are designed to deploy in moderate to severe crashes.

Air bags have been the cause of injuries and deaths. Air bag systems were developed for the 5 ft 8 inch, 180 pound male and have only been tested to meet their needs. No consideration has been given to people who have to sit closer to the steering wheel. Nor did the requirements consider children, or people who have medical reasons (such as heart conditions or osteoporosis) of why an exploding air bag could be fatal.

One particularly lethal auto defect is the over-aggressive airbag. When deployed this type of airbag either intrudes too far into the occupant's space, or is too aggressive for small people and children. A "one size fits all" airbag design often results in excessively forceful airbag inflation. Airbags that inflate with too much force can cause trauma to the face, head, neck, spine, and in some cases, blindness, permanent disfigurement, brain damage and even decapitation. Newer airbag systems use safer multi-force inflators. Moreover, some manufacturers have switched to airbags that inflate sequentially instead of a single high-pressure explosion.

Still another common airbag defect involves crash sensors that trigger in low-speed crashes of only 7 to 15 miles per hour (safer systems trigger in collisions above 15 or 18 mph). This occurs when crash sensors, mounted near a vehicle's headlights, erroneously signal the airbag system that a major crash is in progress, causing the airbag to needlessly deploy. In some collisions, crash sensors can also delay the signal to deploy, causing the airbag to either inflate needlessly or too late to prevent injuries in a crash. As one can see, airbag failures are among the most dangerous vehicle defects, and newer, safer designs are long past due.

ACCIDENTS WHERE AIR BAGS SHOULD DEPLOY

It's a relatively simple concept that airbags should only deploy when they can help prevent injuries. The correct bag should deploy instantly based on the type of accident that is occurring. This is often not the case for a variety of reasons. Equipment failure and design flaws are the major culprits.

ACCIDENTS WHERE AIR BAGS SHOULD NEVER DEPLOY

Conversely airbags should never deploy when they cannot prevent injuries. We have all seen comedy skits in which the airbag deploys after the accident is completely over. Regrettably the improper deployment of airbags happens far too frequently a few examples of which would be navigating potholes animal strikes and curb kissing. The airbag should never deploy when you're not in a real accident. Again the equipment failures and design laws are the major reason.

If you or a loved one have been injured by a faulty airbag, you need to speak to an attorney who is familiar with this type of case immediately. Do not delay. You need a lawyer who can arrange to have your vehicle inspected before it is repaired or towed away to the shredder! If you are in this situation, I cannot stress how much that time is of the essence. Immediately go on to my website at http://johnandersonlaw.com and fill out an online consultation form or call my office at 949-492-9944. It is quick, easy, the consultation is free and the claim you save may be your own!