Airbags should save lives, reducing the force of an impact in a car wreck, but what happens if the airbags are defective? Perhaps the airbags in your vehicle failed to deploy in a wreck, worsening your injuries. Or maybe the airbag inflated when it shouldn’t have, and you were injured as a result.
You are not alone. Recently, an estimated 500,000 Georgia auto owners were driving cars with defective airbags.
If you were hurt due to defective airbags, you have the right to seek compensation. A skilled airbag injury lawyer can hold the other party accountable on your behalf.
Most Common Airbag Injuries
Airbag injuries can be severe, and even though these safety devices should protect passengers from the force of an auto collision, flaws can prevent them from working as intended. People experience life-changing injuries from airbags that deploy too soon, don’t fully inflate, or over-inflate with excessive force.
Some of the most common airbag injuries include:
- Neck injuries, like strained ligaments or torn muscles
- Lacerations, abrasions, and bruising
- Facial damage, like a broken nose or occipital socket
- Concussion
- Internal bleeding and internal organ damage
- Soft tissue injuries, like sprains and strains
- Burns
- Tinnitus and hearing loss
Pregnant women may suffer fetal injury or even a miscarriage. In the most severe cases, airbag injuries can be fatal.
Symptoms of Airbag Injuries
In the moments following a car accident, you may not realize how badly you’re hurt. Many people attribute common airbag injury symptoms to feeling “shaken up” after a crash. However, if you start feeling one or more of these symptoms after a wreck or after your car’s airbags have improperly deployed, it’s essential to seek medical attention right away:
- Persistent headache
- Back and shoulder pain
- Neck pain, stiffness, or difficulty turning your head
- Pain from your shoulders to your hands
- Vertigo
- Abdominal pain, soreness, or nausea
Not everyone experiences the same airbag injury symptoms or to the same degree, but you should probably see a doctor if the pain doesn’t go away or worsens.
What Should I Do After an Airbag Injury?
Getting a medical evaluation after any car wreck, no matter how minor it seems, reduces the risk of complications from your injuries and gives you the best chance of recovery. Additionally, the medical records post-accident provide a link between your injuries and the faulty airbag. You and your airbag injury attorney will need them as an element of proof in your case.
Your other steps after an airbag injury depend on precisely what happened. Contacting a lawyer as soon as possible helps you learn more about your options. Defective airbags may be considered a product liability case, whether it’s a case of the airbag not deploying on impact or deploying without the car being in a wreck. If possible, preserve the airbag and your vehicle as evidence.
In any situation, be cautious about who you talk to after the accident. If you were involved in a car collision, you’re likely required to report the accident to your insurance company. You’re not required to talk to any other insurance representative, though. The other driver’s insurance company may call you, asking for a statement, which you don’t have to give.
If faulty airbags caused your injuries, then your case may become more complicated. An airbag manufacturer or auto company representative may contact you, but you aren’t required to talk to them. In fact, it’s usually in your best interest to refer these conversations to your attorney.
It’s difficult for someone to go after a major airbag or auto manufacturer on their own. An attorney who understands the complications in these kinds of cases may be able to provide the guidance and expertise you need.
Can I Sue for Airbag Injuries?
Yes, if a faulty airbag injured you, whether it’s one that didn’t deploy properly in a wreck or one that deployed when you were simply driving, you may file a suit for compensation for your losses. Suppose you were injured in a car collision caused by another driver. In that case, you may file a claim or lawsuit for your injuries against the other driver in addition to a possible suit against the airbag manufacturer.
A suit for airbag injuries can quickly become more complicated than one between two private drivers. Your attorney may name a major automotive manufacturer as the defendant. This organization likely has an entire legal department and a significant interest in downplaying or dismissing allegations of injuries caused by defective airbags.
You may file a suit, but it’s essential to work with a law firm with the experience and resources to pursue a potentially complicated case.
Compensation Available in an Airbag Injury Claim
Compensation available in airbag injury settlements may depend on when and how the accident happened. You may be eligible for compensation for economic or specific losses and non-economic or intangible losses.
Economic compensation can cover your:
- Medical care, both current and future
- Lost wages from time missed at work
- Modifications to your home or vehicle if you become disabled
- Reduced earning potential if you cannot continue in your line of work
Non-economic compensation helps remedy the impact that the injuries and experience had on your life. This may include:
- Emotional trauma or mental anguish
- Pain and suffering from physical injuries
- Reduced quality of life
- Impact of the injuries on your relationships
- Scarring or disfigurement
In some cases, you may also pursue punitive damages. Punitive damages are an economic punishment assessed against defendants whose behavior a judge finds egregiously negligent. For example, the judge in your case may order an auto manufacturer or an airbag designer to pay punitive damages for releasing a faulty and unsafe product to consumers.
Punitive damages are rare. Your personal injury attorney can advise you whether you could pursue them in your situation.
Get in Touch with an Experienced Airbag Injury Lawyer in Duluth, GA Today
Are you suffering from severe injuries after a car collision? Do you need help understanding your rights and how to seek compensation for your injuries? We can help. Contact Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC, today for a free consultation with one of our attorneys.
