How Can Airbags Injure You During a Car Accident?
Airbags are designed to keep people safe in the event of a collision. However, there are scenarios in which your airbag could do more harm than good in an accident, as a skilled car accident lawyer Milwaukee WI trusts can explain.. Even if your airbag does deploy properly, it may only act to reduce your injuries as opposed to preventing them altogether. How can an airbag injure you in a car crash?
You May Be Too Small
Car manufacturers recommend that no one under the age of 12 ride in the front passenger seat of a moving vehicle. This is because there is a greater risk of head and neck injuries after deployment of the airbag, as well as a greater risk of decapitation. Such a recommendation is made because those aged 12 and under may be too small to be properly protected if the airbag deploys. However, if you are smaller than average for an adult, or are a younger driver who simply hasn’t had a growth spurt yet, you could face the same types of problems.
You Are Not Wearing Your Seat Belt
If you aren’t wearing your seat belt, the risk of injury increases if an airbag deploys after a car accident. Therefore, it is important to make sure that you are always properly restrained whenever you are driving or riding in a vehicle. This is true whether you are riding in the front or in the backseat.
The Airbag Was Not Installed Properly
The company that makes the airbag is responsible for ensuring that it is designed to properly deploy and inflate in the event of a collision. However, it is the responsibility of the car manufacturer to make sure that the airbag is installed properly, in addition to any sensors that help to activate it.
The Airbag Was Removed or Altered
You should never remove an airbag from a vehicle. You could increase the danger of getting injured in the event of an accident. In addition, you may not be able to put the airbag back in, or put it back in correctly, whether you do so yourself or have a professional reinstall it.
The Airbag Did Not Deploy Correctly
If the airbag doesn’t deploy correctly, it could lead to significant injury. It is not uncommon to hear stories about airbags that deployed before a collision, or deployed during collisions occurring at low speeds. If the airbag deploys after a collision takes place, your head and neck could be impacted, which could lead to muscle strains or tears.
You Won’t Suffocate Because of an Airbag
You may have heard that you could suffocate if your airbag deploys either during a collision, or on its own unexpectedly. The good news is that airbags are designed to both inflate and deflate within seconds. As they are designed to be porous, you can still breath even if your face was pressed against it for an extended period of time.
Airbags can improve your chances of escaping a crash relatively unscathed. As long as they are properly installed and have not been altered by the driver, they will protect most adults and children over the age of 12 more often than not. Thanks to Hickey & Turim, S.C. for their insight into the hazards of airbags.
