We give each case the time and attention it deserves, and we treat everyone who walks through our doors like family.
From auto accidents to defective product injuries to workers’ compensation claims, we’re here to help Louisiana injury victims.
We value building relationships with the many people and organizations that make Louisiana a great place to live.
Dudley DeBosier has a trusted team of personal injury lawyers who have been helping injured people in Louisiana.
Free Consultation
February 8th, 2021
Like the seatbelt, airbags are an invention that have saved countless lives. Unfortunately, airbags have also caused a large number of injuries.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), front airbags reduce driver fatalities by 29% in crashes, and front passenger death by 32%. Many newer models of vehicles are also equipped with side airbags, which reduce driver death by 37% in cars, and by 52% in larger vehicles like SUVs.
In other words, risking injury from an airbag is still a much better option than dying in a car crash because there was no airbag. But that doesn’t mean that people who suffer serious injuries from an airbag simply need to accept no one is responsible for their injuries, either.
If someone is injured by their airbag going off after another driver collides with them, they can get compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurance for their medical bills. Additionally, if they are injured by an airbag that malfunctioned, they can get compensation from the airbag manufacturer.
Airbag injuries caused by defective airbags usually fall into three categories:
The Takata airbag recall is the largest and most famous example of defective airbags. When these defective airbags went off, there was a high risk of them exploding and injuring or killing the vehicle’s occupants with shrapnel.
If you suspect your airbag did not deploy correctly, causing you to be injured or even resulting in the death of someone you love, it’s important to contact an experienced defective product lawyer like those at Dudley DeBosier to learn if you may be eligible for compensation.
Additionally, you will need to preserve any evidence related to the airbag, which means you should not allow any pieces of the airbag to be thrown out, or allow the insurance company to take possession of the vehicle, which they will attempt to do if the vehicle is declared a total loss after the crash.
Even when airbags deploy correctly, they can result in serious injury. This is because the extreme speed and force of their inflation can cause abrasions or burns, and the chemicals used to inflate them so rapidly can irritate the lungs and airways.
Common airbag injuries include:
Many injuries caused by airbags require medical treatment. If the crash that caused the airbag to go off was caused by someone else, you can file a compensation claim for the medical bills you receive after being treated for your injuries.
Airbags are intended for use by an average-sized adult, which is why children and smaller or elderly adults (who tend to sit closer to the steering wheel) are more at risk of injury.
Following these tips can reduce your chances of injury by airbag:
Any time you are injured due to someone else’s negligence, whether that’s another driver slamming into your vehicle or an auto manufacturer who failed to properly safety test their products, the person or party at fault should be held responsible for the harm they caused.
Our experienced Louisiana auto accident lawyers know how to help you get the compensation you need after a crash, especially one serious enough to set off the airbag and cause you injuries. Call today for a free case consultation, and if you hire us, you owe us nothing unless we win.
