Defective Airbags

According to federal safety standards, all passenger vehicles are required to be installed with airbags. Airbags are essential to minimizing injuries in accidents. However, if the airbags are defective, they fail to help the occupants of the vehicle, and allow serious injuries to occur.

Defects that occur in either the design or manufacturing stage can cause an airbag to fail when it is needed most -- in an automobile collision. This can cause serious injuries to the people in the car, including traumatic head injuries, eye injuries, neck and spinal cord injuries, lacerations, and bruises. In fact, many injuries can go unnoticed for years before they manifest themselves.

Problems with Airbags

Airbags can fail to protect the occupants of a vehicle due to a number of reasons, such as:

Defective sensors
Over or under inflation of airbags
Failure to activate
Deployment with too much force
Deployment when unnecessary

Airbag defects have been found in cars, trucks and SUVs of all different makes and models. The manufacturers of such vehicles have recalled significant proportions of their defective models to fix the airbags, but this does not guarantee that airbags will be effective in the future.

Innocent victims of injuries due to defective airbags can seek compensation for medical expenses and therapy costs, lost wages, loss of future income, and for their pain and suffering. Serious head injuries can adversely affect the earning capacity of an individual, and this can cause financial and emotional strains on the victim and his or her family.

If you or someone you know was injured in a car accident, and airbags failed to provide appropriate protection, you have the right to seek compensation for your injuries. Contact the experienced Kenosha defective airbags attorneys of Habush Habush & Rottier, S.C.

AIRBAG INJURIES

How Airbags Increase Accident Survival

Do airbags really save lives or are the safety experts just full of hot air? The answer is an unequivocal yes. While they do present risks especially for young children, the new technology in the next-generation air bag saves lives.

First-Generation Airbags

When airbags first were mandated in 1996, the technology was in its infancy. Children and small adults could be killed from the force of the airbag if they were not wearing seat belts. Technology did not allow the force of the airbag to be controlled.

Originally, automakers fought the federal regulation, fearing airbags would cause injuries. Upon reviewing the statistics of airbag fatalities, regulators allowed for automakers to reduce the force in which the airbag was deployed. This would minimize risk to young children and small adults.

Advanced Airbags

Smarter airbag systems became available in the early 2000's. These advanced airbags allow for the airbag to be deployed with less force, or not at all, depending on the circumstances. The sensor can detect the size of the person, and thus adjust the force accordingly.

Airbag Injuries

The safest place for infants and young children is in the back seat. Injuries to children caused by airbags would be mostly avoidable if this was followed by parents. Injuries from an airbag can include broken bones, especially the wrist or arm, facial injuries, and neck injuries.

But they also prevent a lot of more severe injuries, such as hitting the dashboard or glass with your face, or being thrown from a vehicle if seat belts are not in use.

Ultimate Protection

I personally am alive today partly because of the technology in our new car. From the severity of the crash, chances of survival would have been slim without them. Life can change in heartbeat, as in being involved in a collision. But I feel so much better knowing that I am doing what I can to be as safe as possible.

AIRBAG INJURIES

Defective Airbag Case

Many factors contribute to determining whether or not you should decide to file a lawsuit because your airbag did not deploy.

These are the factors that will help you decide whether to take legal action:

1. Under normal circumstances, should the airbag have deployed in this type of crash?

2. Why didn't the airbag deploy?

3. If the airbag had worked, could I have been less injured?

4. Are the injuries caused by the defective airbag serious enough or life threatening enough to be worth the cost of pursuing a defective airbag lawsuit?

1. Under normal circumstances, should the airbag have deployed in the crash?

Prior to deciding whether to file a product liability lawsuit for a defective airbag, it is best to examine the facts about the incident to know for sure there the airbag did not work properly. In other words, should the airbag have deployed in the crash? Oftentimes, to answer this question, an investigator is used to examine the evidence. The speed that the car was traveling at is an important element to consider. A typical airbag will deploy if the car is traveling at a speed equal to or slower than 14 mph. Moreover, the type of impact plays a role in whether an airbag will deploy. The airbags in the front of the vehicle should deploy in frontal impact crashes. Therefore, if you were traveling at a speed of or over 14 mph and were hit in the front of your vehicle, then the frontal airbags should have deployed. However, if you experienced a crash in the rear of your vehicle, then your airbag may not have gone off because it was not made for this type of accident. Newer vehicles also have side airbags, so it is necessary to determine where the airbags are located in the car and analyze their effectiveness according to the type of accident that occurred.

2. Why didn't the airbag deploy?

You need to prove that there is something wrong with the airbag that caused it to not deploy even if you simply think that it should have in the accident that you had. You need to have an expert with an engineering background testify that there is something wrong with the airbag. It can be expensive to have experts in this field to come and give a testimony on your behalf. Therefore, if you were not severely injured, it would not be wise to spend the money on attempting to prove that the airbag should have worked.

3. If the airbag had worked, could I have been less injured?

In order to prove that you would have incurred less injuries if the airbag had gone off, medical experts should also be asked to provide a testimony to provide evidence of this fact.

4. Are the injuries caused by the defective airbag serious enough or life threatening enough to be worth the cost of pursuing a defective airbag lawsuit?

As you can see, airbag cases are complex, and costly to pursue. It may not be worth it to pursue a lawsuit of this kind, even if you believe that you have a strong claim. In other words, if the injuries that you sustained as a result of the airbag not deploying were not substantial, then the cost of going through the legal process could be more than the settlement. On the other hand, if you did in fact experience serious injuries or one of the passengers was killed, you should consider pursuing a case and should contact a personal injury lawyer immediately.

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Airbag Safety - Tips For Keeping Your Child Safe

It is widely publicized that passenger-side airbags place children at serious risk of injury in the event of a crash. Reports of numerous child injuries and even deaths have surfaced and caused a great deal of concern over a device that is intended to save lives rather than take them. The good news is that the risk of injury can be reduced by taking the proper precautions.

Many people say that children should never sit in the front seat. They might define children as anyone under the age of 12. But, how can you use age as the determining factor when children can vary widely in size at the age of 12?

What should really determine if a child is able to sit in the front seat is size. If the child is big enough that the seat belt can fit properly, the child is fine to sit in the front seat. Fitting properly means that the lap belt rests on the upper thighs and the shoulder belt goes across the chest. For smaller children the shoulder belt will not be able to go across the chest and the child will often put the shoulder belt under their arm to get the belt out of their face or to be more comfortable. This leaves the child vulnerable to the force of the deploying airbag.

If a child is large enough to wear a seat belt properly, they still might be at risk if they sit too close to the airbag. For the airbag to work as designed, it needs room to deploy. If the child is too close to the airbag, that room will not be there and the child will likely be injured by the deploying airbag. To avoid this risk, always have your child sit back as far as possible from the airbag.

With your child strapped into the seat belt properly and at a safe distance from the airbag, the risk of injury due to a deploying airbag is significantly reduced. Still, other risks exist. Defective airbags can cause injury, as well as the negligent actions of an individual. If your child has been injured as a result of an airbag defect or from the negligent actions of another person, you should determine your legal rights and take action.

To get more information on your personal injury rights in the case of an airbag injury, visit the website of this Chicago personal injury firm.

AIRBAG INJURIES

Philadelphia Airbag Injury Lawyer Talks About Airbag Eye Injury Claims and Vision Injury Claims

Airbags involve the rapid deployment of a large cushion at speeds that can exceed 230 mph. The entire deployment and inflation process is about 0.2 sec. Airbags deploy in about 0.05 second. A vehicle changes speed so fast in a crash. Therefore, air bags must inflate rapidly if they are to help reduce the risk of the occupant hitting the car's interior.

Newer airbags trigger at a lesser speed. Still passengers must remain at least 10 inches from the bag to avoid injury from the bag in a crash. While airbags can protect a person under the right circumstances, they can also injure or kill. Protect yourself and your passengers from unnecessary injuries or even deaths.

Airbags produce more than 1200 lbs of force. Activated air bags can inflict severe eye injuries, including blindness, abrasions of the skin, hearing damage (from the sound during deployment), head and facial injuries, and breaking the fingers, hands or arms. The most common injuries are bruising of the eye socket and bleeding in the eyeball. Some of these victims go on to develop angle-recession glaucoma, or pressure in the eye due to rips in the eye's drainage system. Glaucoma can slowly destroy vision. The number of eye injuries from air bags may be rising. Pipe smoking should be avoided while driving. If the airbag inflates and hits the pipe, it is likely to be fatal, even in a moderate crash.

In 1990, the first automotive fatality attributed to an airbag was reported. Deaths peaked in 1997 at 53 in the United States. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that since 1990, airbag deployment has killed 227 people in low-severity crashes.

Serious or even fatal injuries can occur when someone is very close to, or in direct contact with an air bag module when the air bag deploys. Such injuries may be sustained by unrestrained or improperly restrained occupants who slide forward in the seat during pre-crash braking, unconscious drivers who are slumped over the steering wheel, and properly restrained drivers who sit too close to the steering wheel.

Children under 12 should always be restrained in a rear seat. A rear-facing infant restraint should never be put in the front seat of a vehicle with a front passenger air bag. Such a restraint places an infant's head close to the air bag module.

AIRBAG INJURIES

Airbag Failures Are a Dangerous Vehicle Defect, Say Auto Products Liability Attorneys

Ask any experienced auto products liability attorney and they'll tell you that, although auto airbags have saved many lives, some airbag failures have led to severe, even fatal injuries. These vehicle defects have also been lethal to shorter drivers who tend to sit closer to the steering wheel. Regrettably, many of these airbags have deployed in low-speed crashes, causing injuries and death in collisions where the driver or passenger would probably have survived with only minimal injuries.

Over 1,400 Fatalities Blamed on Airbag Failures

Auto defects of this type pose a major risk to drivers and passengers. According to an analysis of NHTSA's accident database conducted by the Kansas City Star, between 2001 and 2006, at least 1,400 people died in front-impact car accidents after airbags failed to deploy. Not included in this analysis were side-impact crashes where the airbag did not work, fatal impacts to the left or right fender, and deaths due to occupant ejections or vehicle rollover crashes. Had these been included, fatalities would have risen by more than 4,000. The Star also noted that since 2001, the number of deaths in accidents where airbags failed has gone up about 50 percent--with 2006 seeing a 14 percent increase in such fatalities. Skilled auto products liability lawyers warn that this is an alarming rise in auto products liability for the major auto manufacturers.

Defective Airbags Lethal to Children Under 12

Air bags can be a particularly dangerous defective product to children 12 and under. Passenger-side air bags inflate at speeds up to 200 miles per hour. This enormous explosion of energy, while cushioned by air, can be lethal to children who are unbelted or improperly belted. Another design flaw is that many airbags inflate horizontally from the front of the instrument panel directly toward the head of the child (safer designs, mounted on top of the instrument panel, inflate vertically upward, then out). Finally, too many automakers fail to crash-test their prototype and production airbags systems with dummies that represent infants, small children, short-stature females, and large adult males. The most experienced auto products liability attorneys will tell you this lack of testing can lead to serious product liability issues.

Variety of Airbag Malfunctions Add to Auto Products Liability

There are other airbag malfunctions that can cause severe injury or death. One particularly onerous auto defect is the over-aggressive airbag, which either intrudes too far into the occupant's space, or is too aggressive for small people and children. Some airbag systems have a "one size fits all" design with enormously forceful airbag inflation. Over-aggressive airbag injuries can cause trauma to the face, head, neck, spine, arms, and in some cases, blindness, permanent disfigurement, brain damage and even decapitation. Safer multi-force inflators have been implemented in many newer airbag systems. Airbags that inflate sequentially in stages, instead of a single high-pressure explosion have also been adopted by some manufacturers. Knowledgeable products liability attorneys say this design can help prevent serious injuries.

Another common airbag problem occurs when crash sensors trigger in minor low-speed crashes of only 7 to 15 miles per hour (safer designs trigger in crashes above 15 or 18 mph). Crash sensors mounted near a vehicle's headlights can falsely signal an airbag system that a major crash is occurring, causing the airbag to deploy. Crash sensors can also delay the signal, causing the airbag to either inflate needlessly or too late after a crash. In summary, airbag failures comprise some of the most dangerous vehicle defects, and newer, safer designs are long overdue.

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The Ten Inch Rule - How Safe Are Airbags During Pregnancy?

As you know, airbags can save lives in car crashes, but many of my pregnant patients are very concerned about the risks involved to their unborn child if an airbag is deployed in an accident. Their concerns are warranted in that motor vehicle accidents present a greater risk to a fetus than to infants, or children. Why? Because while a child is vulnerable, that same child is physically independent from the mother. The fetus, on the other hand, relies on the placental connection for blood circulation which in turn provides all nourishment and oxygen necessary for survival in the womb. Any interruption or impairment of that connection places the fetus at high risk. While the uterine environment provides some protection to the fetus, we must remember that the fetus is living and totally dependent.

Unfortunately, motor vehicle accidents (MVA) are the leading cause of fetal trauma in pregnant women, often resulting in fetal and maternal death. Approximately 2.8% of all pregnant women are involved in a motor vehicle accident, with the youngest age groups most affected. Reports of MVAs in pregnancy carries the risks of placental abruption (most common), low birth weight, prematurity resulting from premature labor, premature rupture of the membranes with loss of amniotic fluid and fetal death resulting from the direct trauma. Additionally, poor developmental outcomes, later in the child's life, may be linked to the original trauma from a MVA.

One of our previous blogs discussed the use of seat belts and the evidence that suggests that seat belt use in pregnancy adds substantial protection to both fetus and mom. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology confirms improved safety of pregnant women wearing properly positioned seat belts. This newsletter will discuss the use of airbags, because knowing the optimal way to protect a pregnant woman in a car crash is of paramount importance.

Airbags and the ten inch rule. Airbags have now become standard in all automobiles and have been reported to reduce death in non-pregnant motorists. However, the effect of airbags on those positioned too close to the airbag, such as children younger than twelve years of age, infants with rear facing car seats, the elderly, and short women can result in increased injuries and death. To avoid airbag injury, the National Highway and Traffic Safety Association recommends a minimum of a 10 inch distance from the center point of the airbag cover, (the plastic piece facing the driver) which is located either in the steering wheel or the dashboard, depending on the car model.

The safety and efficacy of airbags for pregnant women has not been clearly demonstrated. Since the gravid abdomen can be the leading point of contact from an airbag, especially in the second half of pregnancy, concerns about placental abruption, uterine rupture and direct fetal injury have been raised. It is extremely difficult to comply with the 10 inch safety distance from the airbag to the gravid abdomen, especially in the third trimester of pregnancy. However, it is still felt by the NHTSA that the use of airbags far outweigh the risks.

A recent study by Dr. Melissa Schiff in the January, 2010 article in Obstetrics and Gynecology, found no increased risk of maternal or fetal outcomes in front seat motorists involved in car collisions in which airbags were deployed. However, several other reports have demonstrated the reverse. Dr. Fusco, in the Journal of Trauma 2001, described a case of uterine rupture and fetal demise in a motor vehicle accident, possibly secondary to airbag deployment. Other reports (Schultze, 1998, Pearlman, 1996) described a case of placental abruption with fetal death associated with airbag deployment in a head-on crash. It is difficult to ascertain whether the impact of the collision or the airbag deployment is the cause of the uterine rupture or abruption. We must recall that there is a trade-off. Airbags may protect the mother from serious injury upon any impact with the dashboard or steering wheel.

Why is natural protection not enough protection? Protection of the fetus from injury relies primarily on the cushioning effect of the amniotic fluid, the thick uterine musculature and the bony supporting structure of the pelvis. However, in a MVA, the placenta does not have the resilience to expand, contract and rapidly change shape with the traumatized rapidly shape-changing uterus, which explains why a shearing effect abruption occurs with rapid acceleration and deceleration forces. Obviously, crash severity affects the generation of fetal injury, but even relatively minor accidents, with speeds as low as 5 miles per hour can be associated with severe fetal trauma when the airbag is deployed at the standard expansion rate of 125 miles per hour.

Seat belts are still the first line of defense. While further research needs to be done to support a definitive statement on the safety of airbags for the pregnant woman and the fetus, the best advice for now is to keep your belly at least 10 inches from the airbag cover, if possible. It is known, however, that shoulder and lap restraints prevent ejection from the car and forward movement of the mother in a front or rear-end collision, and therefore decrease maternal mortality and protect the fetus.

Seat belt is fastened. Unfortunately, there still exists a substantial group of pregnant women who do not wear seat belts, and when worn, do not wear them properly. Make sure your seat belt is positioned correctly. Seat belts decrease force transmission to the gravid uterus, but airbag deployment might contribute towards increasing force transmission to an anterior placenta resulting in an abruption, uterine rupture, brain hemorrhage, and skull fractures with consequent fetal demise. Another possibility includes the sheer impact of the collision causing these complications. Generally a protocol of monitoring a pregnant patient for at least 4 to 6 hours after a MVA has been adopted by most medical centers to detect whether traumatic injury to the fetus has occurred, as signs can be very subtle.

Summary More research needs to be done that takes into account the gestational age of the fetus, the force of the collision, location of the placenta, and whether a seat belt was used in conjunction with the airbag. A definitive statement will have to await the outcome of such a future study. I sincerely hope that my readers will be educated by this article and exercise caution, particularly in the second half of pregnancy. In other words, buckle up, remember the ten inch rule and please DRIVE CAREFULLY!

AIRBAG INJURIES

Benefits and Risks of Side Impact Airbags

Side impact airbags are a specialized type of airbag that helps protect the head and chest in the event of a crash that affects the side of the vehicle. Although side impact airbags have been around since 1998, they only recently became widely available, and unlike frontal airbags, are not required by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Therefore, not all vehicles are equipped with this type of airbag. However, in late 2007, a new rule came into effect that required all vehicle manufacturers to upgrade their side-impact protection. Vehicle manufacturers were then given the freedom to decide what type of protection system with which to equip their vehicles.

Benefits

Side impact airbags help protect vehicle occupants in the event of a crash into the side of the vehicle. If a crash is severe, a side-impact airbag will inflate in a matter of seconds in order to protect the head and chest of the driver or passengers. According to NHTSA statistics:

Almost 60 percent of fatality victims in side-impact crashes suffered from brain injuries, which might have been prevented with the protection of side airbags.
Head protection side-impact airbags could save almost 1,000 lives each year and prevent more than 900 serious injuries.

Side-impact airbags can save lives in the event of a rollover accident. Unlike frontal airbags, side airbags may stay inflated for a few seconds to help prevent injuries during a rollover crash.

Risks

Despite all the added safety benefits of side airbags, they do include a set of risks. A set of recommended standards exists for all airbags, and vehicle manufacturers voluntarily report to the government if the airbags in their vehicles meet these recommendations. Before these recommendations were developed, many head and torso side airbags could inflict serious injury or even cause fatality to children who were seated to close to the airbag when it was deployed. Despite this risk, very few vehicles in the U.S. were equipped with these types of airbags. A 2008 study by the NHTSA looked at 1,500 accidents in which a side-impact airbag inflated, and found no serious injuries to children involved in the accidents due to the airbags.

Most injuries that occur as a result of airbags could have been prevented had the occupant been properly restrained with a seatbelt. Airbags are designed to provide added protection in the event of an accident, not replace a seatbelt. Without a seatbelt, a passenger can land on top of an airbag and suffocate or get trapped against a side of the vehicle as a result. Airbags are effective if passengers are properly buckled up, with children in the backseat who are strapped into appropriate car safety seats or booster seats.

For more information about airbag safety and car crashes, visit the website of the Waukesha car accident lawyers of Habush Habush & Rottier, S.C.

AIRBAG INJURIES

Results of Defective Airbags

Faulty airbags have been the cause of multiple vehicle recalls in the last few years. Even companies with a reputation for safe vehicles have been plagued by defective airbags. The defects with airbags have not even been limited to just one cause, but have been because of a number of different faulty actions. Airbags that do not deploy properly can result in passenger injury, but even airbags that do deploy can still lead to further injury. Though airbags are intended to add a measure of safety to a person's car, they can actually be detrimental to the health of some passengers.

Airbags are generally defective for one of two reasons. Some airbags fail to deploy and lead to the injury of passengers. If an airbag fails to deploy in the event of a serious accident, the driver and any passengers may be at serious risk of an injury that could have been prevented. Airbag failure can result in traumatic brain injuries that can contribute to long term affects. Air bags are intended to decrease injury in an accident situation, but if they do not deploy effectively, they leave a passenger unprotected from injury.

Other airbags successfully deploy, but cause damage or injury as a result. Airbags that deploy with too much force or deploy unnecessarily can also cause a great deal of damage. There is a significant amount of force associated with airbag deployment, but if that force is misdirected or sends other parts of the vehicle flying, it can cause more damage than it prevents.

These types of faulty products put consumers at serious risk of injury. If you believe a defective airbag has lead to further injury, please visit the website of the Waco defective airbag attorneys at the Feazell Law Office for more information on your legal options.

AIRBAG INJURIES

Preventing Airbag Injury

Driving is a privilege many Americans take for granted. Drivers also take for granted that their automobile is a safe and secure way to get themselves and their family members or other passengers from point A to point B. Today's cars remind all who enter with flashing lights and often little bells, encouraging them to use their safety belts before putting the car into "drive". Most later model automobiles have the added safety feature of airbag devices, allowing for cushions of air to deploy upon impact (side and front) in minor and major traffic accident situations. However, can the new addition of rapidly deployed airbags be more harmful than helpful in many auto accidents?

Research performed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Commission (NHTSA) has shown that since 1990, more than 270 motorists and their passengers have been fatally injured due to airbag deployment in low-speed crash situations. Ninety percent of these deaths have been children who were improperly restrained or placed with their heads far too close to the airbag deployment source, causing fatal head trauma. Since most automobiles have airbags for the passengers in the front seats of the car, it is of dire importance that children do not ride up front. Research has shown that airbag deployment is extremely likely to cause injury to children riding in the front seat yet only 14 states currently have laws that prevent children from riding there. Kids in the back, adults up front!

Adult riders' injuries and deaths are mostly due to rider error or neglect. In many of these cases, passengers and drivers have neglected to wear their lapbelts properly, feeling that airbags are enough to protect them in a serious accident. This could not be further from the truth. Airbags are designed to work in tandem with existing safety belts, not in an "either or" situation. Safety belts should always be secure and snug about the waist, an important measure in hampering forward movement in a crash situation. Airbags were introduced as an additional measure to help protect driver and passenger from harm due to impact of chest and or face to the dashboard or driving console. In order to allow airbags to do their job properly, drivers and passengers must be sure to be positioned out of the airbag deployment zone. Keeping at least 10 inches from the steering wheel or dashboard can help ensure that airbag deployment has less of a chance of causing eye or facial injury.

Airbags are certainly a welcome addition for motorists and passengers alike, providing valuable protection in harmful situations when proper safety guidelines are adhered to. In an accident situation, drivers must do all they can to ensure their passengers are protected. However safe or preventative a driver may be, other drivers might not be so cautious. Legal representatives like those at Robles Associates are able to help motorists seek help in the horrible eventuality of an auto accident. It is important to make sure drivers and passengers are protected before and after an accident; an excellent accident lawyer is necessary to help protect family safety in the aftermath of a collision.

AIRBAG INJURIES

Everything You Need to Know About Airbags

An airbag is an air filled bag that automatically deploys upon the impact of your car with another object. This is considered a passive safety mechanism. Airbags serve to protect passengers from impacting with inner parts of the car that could lead to serious injury. Not only do they keep your head from slamming into the steering wheel, but side airbags protect your head from hitting the windows as well. They drastically reduce your chances of serious trauma to your head and brain during an accident.

In 1952, an industrial engineer by the name of John Wenrick was the first person to start developing the technology for safety devices like the airbag. He came up with a safety cushion for vehicles that he believed could greatly reduce injuries in an accident. Shortly after, Ford Motors began pursuing safety mechanisms that utilized Wenrick's inflatable technology. A decade later, Mercedes began prototyping airbags to be used in their vehicles.

As accident rates rose, legislation was presented to require automotive manufacturers to equip their cars with an automatic protection mechanism for passengers. Engineer Allen Breed ended up designing a crash sensor to deploy airbags before the legislation passed.

It wasn't until the late 1980's the the US government finally passed a law dictating that any cars manufactured after that date would be required to come equipped with an airbag system. However, this law was limited to just general vehicles, and not until 1995 did the law change to require light trucks to offer the same safety features.

Out of the 230 million vehicles on the road, slightly less than 75% contain an automatic airbag system, which would bring the number of vehicles with proper safety restraints down to 163 million cars. Only about 20 million, or less than 10% of vehicles have integrated a passenger seat air bag system as well. The National Highway Traffic Safety commission estimates that airbags are responsible for saving almost 20 thousand lives so far. The use of a seat-belt along with the presence of airbags has reduced fatalities in head-on collisions by almost 25%. In the category of people who don't use seat belts, having an airbag in an accident decreased fatalities by 32%

A second generation of airbags was later released and the biggest difference was that it used less force than the first generation. Cars with the newer version of airbags saw another 6% decrease in fatality rates during accidents. These statistics only apply to adult-sized passengers, however. With children under 10 years old, death rates actually increased by 34% with the presence of an airbag.

In the event of a traumatic head injury, seat belts on their own caused an injury decrease of 60% while seat belts paired with an airbag resulted in an 84% decrease. There have been about 200-300 deaths resulting from the use of airbags over the last 20 years. However, these were mostly caused by the more forceful first generation of airbags.

The demographic at highest risk for air bag injury is children under 10 years old. However, there have been reports of death and injury in adults as well. During an impact, air bags release with a great amount of force which can be more dangerous than having no airbags at all. You should avoid having your seat positioned too closely to the dashboard where the airbags are located, especially for children. It is much better to seat your children in the back of the car.

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The Amount Of Injuries And Deaths From Airbag Deployments

There have been many injuries from a device that was designed to protect the driver and front seat passenger in the event of an accident, this is the airbag and to date while this device has protected many people, they have also seriously injured people. There is no definitive date on the amount of of injuries and deaths from airbag deployments.

But there has been some investigation into the amount of injuries and deaths from airbag deployments. The numbers from these injuries and deaths are higher than one would think, as the airbag devices were originally designed and tested for males that were 5 foot 8 inches in height, and weighting 180 pounds, according to some of the published research. This in effect places anyone who is not this tall in a dangerous situation and there have been many documented injuries to prove this fact.

In accidents that would not have been deadly to passengers and drivers had it not been for the airbag devices that was proved to be the cause of their death numbers in the hundreds, this includes adult drivers, of those women who were under 5 feet 2 inches tall and under, children between the ages of 1 and 11 and infants. These numbers for airbag device related deaths were calculated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the amount of injuries and deaths from airbag deployments.

Injuries that have not ended in death have numbered greatly when it came to vision, this includes trauma to the soft tissues and bones of the eye socket, and the leading eye injury has been bruising of the socket, along with bleeding in the eyeball. There is also evidence that in some cases it has lead to blindness or the eye disease Glaucoma, which slowly will lead to blindness in many cases. These eye injuries are tragic effects of an airbag deployment.

When an accident happens in the Marina del Rey, Los Angeles or Santa Ana areas there are personal injury attorneys who understand how these devices have a flawed design and may injure drivers and passengers, and for a family who has faced the devastation of the loss of a loved one from one of these devices.

An eye injury that has left a person blind has immediately changed the person's entire life from the type of employment they did prior to their family obligations and this also means a lifetime of medical bills. This is why an attorney who understands the needs and changes this person is facing for the rest of their lives.

AIRBAG INJURIES

Airbags and Car Accidents - How to Keep Safety on Your Side

When it comes to the safety of drivers and passengers during car accidents, there has been a great focus on seat belt use, which can very often mean the difference between life and death. The message is easy to spread because it is simple: wear a seat belt every time. But nearly as important, but accompanied with more confusion, is airbag safety. Airbags are designed to save lives, but when used incorrectly they can be harmful or even deadly.

With different types of airbags and different child-placement guidelines, it can be confusing for caregivers and parents to know exactly where and how to place their children in their car, truck, SUV, or mini-van. Many are not even aware of which type of airbag their vehicle has, but simply hope that they do their job if or when a car accident occurs.

Airbags aren't as complicated as they seem. It doesn't take long for a driver to learn the do's and do not's of airbag use. Spending a few minutes studying and absorbing the following airbag information could save your life or the life of one of your passengers.

Accidents happen quickly, so airbags have to deploy even faster.
When a car is struck with moderate or serious impact, an airbag inflates within 1/20 of a second. This causes a great amount of immediate force, which is greater the closer you are to the airbag. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) advises ALL passengers to sit with their breastbone no closer than 10 inches from the airbag.
Adults sitting more than 10 inches away in an upright posture and wearing seat belts should not be harmed by an airbag. However, even with that distance, any child under the age of 12 is at severe risk when sitting in the front seat where the airbag is. This still applies to infants in rear-facing car seats, toddlers in booster seats, and children old enough to sit in the regular seat. Children under 12 should never right in front unless it is absolutely necessary.
However, vehicles such as pickup trucks may not have room in the back for a child, forcing the driver to place the child in front. These vehicles should have an optional "on/off" switch for the passenger side airbag. This may also happen if an adult is transporting more children than there are room for in the back. Riding in back is safest, but riding in front with NO airbag is next safest.
Even so, not all vehicles have the on/off option, and there may be instances that require a child to ride in a front seat with airbags. If it is absolutely necessary to do so, the NHTSA recommends sliding the seat as far back away from the airbag as possible and choosing the child who is most likely to stay seated in a safe sitting position. However, this situation is to be avoided whenever possible.
Many newer vehicles are equipped with what are known as advanced frontal airbags. This means that automatic sensors gauge passenger size, seat position, and crash severity to determine the best inflation power for that airbag. Some advanced frontal airbags will not deploy if they detect a smaller occupant in the seat, but this is NOT a go-ahead to put children in the front seat unless it is absolutely unavoidable.

Even when following these guidelines, airbags do pose a risk of serious injury or even death. For the few who are harmed rather than protected by an airbag, the result can be tragic. Victims of airbag injury or families who have lost someone to an airbag death may want to seek the advice of a West Palm Beach Car Accident Lawyer.

But on the whole, airbags save far more lives than they endanger. Thousands of drivers and passengers are saved from severe trauma and death by ever-increasing airbag technology. The more familiar you are with airbag safety, the more the airbags in your vehicle can do their job: protecting the lives and safety of yourself and your passengers.

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AIRBAG INJURIES

Airbag Related Injuries

When used in conjunction with properly fastened safety belts, airbags are meant to help keep the people inside a vehicle from being seriously injured or killed during a serious accident. In 1989, the US government started requiring that all vehicles produced have airbags installed. It's hard to argue with this standard, as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration concluded that front airbags alone saved 12,000 lives from 1960 to 2002.

When a car is involved in a wreck, there is a chance that the collision will trigger one of the airbag system sensors that are placed at various points around the vehicle. The sensor will then send data to the car's onboard computer, which calculates the severity and speed of the impact. If the accident is serious enough, the computer will then send a signal to the airbag and tell begin the inflation process.

Ideally, the bag will reach full inflation right before the person's body comes into contact with it, and then immediately begin to deflate, decelerating the individuals forward movement gradually. Unfortunately, the timing does not always work out so perfectly, which can have some serious consequences. If the deployment is a little late, the person can hit the airbag while it is still inflating. As the inflation can take place at upwards of 200 miles per hour, this can do serious damage, particularly to the head and neck. If the airbag deploys late, it will have already started to deflate when the person comes into contact with it. In this case, the driver's momentum may not be adequately absorbed, and they may hit the steering wheel or dashboard with a great amount of force. There is also a very real risk posed by airbags inflating in low-severity wrecks. Such situations caused over 200 deaths between 1990 and 2001.

The greatest risk for injuries comes from situations where the airbags fail to deploy at all, despite the wreck being severe enough to warrant their utilization. In fact, failure to deploy causes four times as many airbag-related injuries as do faulty deployments. These injuries range from facial injuries (burns, broken bones, and even blindness), to whiplash and even death. Though they account for a fairly small percentage of airbag injuries, manufacturing defects can and do lead to a number of serious injuries every year.

For more information about automotive defects, visit the website of Stevens Point car accident attorneys Habush Habush & Rottier, S.C.

AIRBAG INJURIES

Injuries From Airbags

The development of airbags was a huge step forward in motor vehicle safety. When coupled with proper seat belt use, they provide a chance for accidents that would usually cause serious injuries or death to result in nothing more than minor scrapes and bruises. Their effectiveness prompted the government to make them a requirement in all new cars starting in 1989. This is unsurprising when you consider the fact that, according to the national highway Traffic Safety Administration, frontal airbags helped save 12,000 lives in the 42 years from 1960 to 2002.

The system that deploys a car's airbags during an accident is far from simple. There are various sensors placed around the vehicles body. When one of these sensors detects an accident, it sends information regarding the severity and speed of the impact to the vehicles electronic control unit (ECU). This onboard computer then determines how fast to inflate the airbags and sends the signal to the inflation device.

When things go as intended, the airbag reaches full inflation right before the person's body reaches it, and then almost instantly deflates so that the person does not bounce off with a large amount of force. If the bag inflates early, it will not adequately stop the person's forward momentum and they may slam into the dash or steering wheel. On the other hand, if deployment is late, the airbag will hit the person while it is still inflating. As the inflation takes place at speeds approaching 200 miles per hour, this can cause serious trauma, particularly to the chest, head, and face. When dealing with the extreme forces and speeds of a car accident, precision is very important.

Another potential danger is the situation where a car's airbags deploy during an accident that is not serious enough to warrant their use. Unnecessary airbag deployment in low-severity wrecks caused over 200 deaths between 1990 and 2001. Even more serious, though, is the possibility that airbags will not deploy in a wreck where they are needed. This situation is responsible for four times more airbag-related injuries than are faulty deployments.

While most airbag injuries are the result of "normal" airbag function, a small percentage of serious injuries each year are caused by defective manufacturing practices or airbag materials. In these instances, the manufacturer may be held liable for damages.

AIRBAG INJURIES

Airbag History and Safety

Airbags were made in the mid-1970's, a time during which seatbelt use was greatly declining and traffic fatalities increasing as a result. They were thus originally marketed as an alternative to seatbelts rather than a supplementary safety aid as they are today. It was soon found, however, that the use of airbags without the accompaniment of a seatbelt could result in severe injury or even death. Since airbags have been coupled with seatbelts for safety, airbags have become an integral part to the safety system of just about any new car on the market.

Every year new types of airbags are added to vehicles. The first airbags only deflated from the steering wheel, today the many type of airbags include:

o Frontal airbags-these bags deploy from the steering wheel and now include "shaped" airbags.

o Passenger airbags-the first bags created to protect passengers as well deploy from the dash.

o Side airbags-it was soon found that while airbags were great for front or back collisions, there was no available protection for T-bone or side crashes.

o Side tubular or curtain airbag-protection for the head during a side collision.

o Knee airbag-this bag protects knees and legs and is located beneath the steering wheel.

o Rear Curtain airbag-provides a curtain shield to protect the heads of rear sitting passengers in the event of a rear end crash.

o Rear center airbag-this bag was developed to reduce injuries to rear passengers in a side collision.

Airbag Safety Tips

From 1990 to 2008, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that more than 6,377 lived have been saved and countless injuries prevented thanks to airbags. But while airbags are undoubtedly invaluable lifesaving devices, improper use or faulty systems can result in injury or death. In the same period of time as the previous statistic, 175 fatalities were reported as a result of airbags. Of these fatalities, 104 were children.

To stay safe while riding in a vehicle with airbags, be sure to remember a few things.

o Drivers should allow at least 10 inches between their breastbone and center of the steering wheel.

o Always wear a seatbelt. Not doing so can result in severe injury if the airbag hits you at the wrong angle.

o Children 12 and under should always ride in a rear seat with age appropriate restraints or car seats.

For more information on airbag injuries and safety, contact Iowa lawyers.

AIRBAG INJURIES

Airbag Failure

When a car crash occurs, the driver and passengers inside rely on airbags to stop their forward motion and cushion them from the impact of the collision. Before airbags, people involved in a car accident had little hope of surviving a high speed crash because there was nothing to cushion them from hitting the windshield or steering column. Airbags have now become standard in all vehicles in the United States, which means that drivers and passengers expect a certain level of safety whenever they are in a vehicle. When an airbag fails to deploy on impact, the person inside is put at great risk of sustaining life-threatening or life-ending injuries.

Causes of Failure

Airbags that fail to deploy contain some sort of defect that prevents them from opening. Individuals who would otherwise be kept safe by the cushioned bag may suffer severe injuries, such as head trauma, spinal injury, and other debilitating injuries. The following is a list of possible problems that could cause an airbag to fail:

Sensor damage that does not sense the impact on the car
Improper sensor and wiring installation that does not initiate deployment
Improper packing of the airbag into the airbag compartment
Malfunction with the deploying mechanism that prevents the airbag from being released

Liable Parties

An airbag that fails to work properly and cushion the driver or passenger represents a failure of safety standards required by law. The car manufacturer or airbag manufacturer may be responsible for the deployment failure and therefore may be liable for any injuries resulting from the defective bag. If you or someone you love has been injured because an airbag failed to deploy, you may have grounds to pursue a lawsuit for compensation. If the manufacturer is found to be negligent, you may receive payment for your injuries and damages, including medical bills, funeral costs, and lost wages from time off of work.

To Learn More

For more information on automobile defects and injury liability, please visit the website of experienced Austin personal injury lawyer Vic Feazell, P.C. today.

AIRBAG INJURIES

Airbags Save Lives

What you need to know!

Airbags were first introduced in the early '70s and have evolved a great deal since then, due to changing laws and ongoing statistics based on usage and safety data. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that a person, who uses their seat belt in conjunction with an airbag, reduces their rate of serious injury by over 80%.

Joan Claybrook. Administrator for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

issued the first standards requiring passive restraints in vehicles in 1984. Some report that Airbags have been credited to reducing the risk of death from front collisions by 30 percent, and with saving over 10,000 lives as of January 2003.

Although airbags do save lives, they are still not perfect. Due to poor designs, cost cutting decisions and a lack of comprehensive standards; some airbags fail to adequately protect the occupants during an accident. Some airbags will fail to deploy during a collision, or in some cases, deploy at such force that they cause more of an injury than the actual accident. Young drivers and shorter adults are more prone to air bag injury, since they have difficulty in maintaining the recommended distance of 10 inches from the steering wheel. Having Pedal extenders installed in the vehicle can help in giving the driver an additional 2-3 inches from the airbag if it ever deployed. Public Citizens, an advocacy, group has reported that inadequately designed airbags have resulted in the deaths of more than 200 people, including 129 children.

Airbags have been so successful in reducing serious injury, that most car owners expect this as standard equipment within every new car purchased. Most parents will not even consider putting their new driver into a car without airbags. When buying a used car, it is important to know that all cars manufactured after 1998 were required to have airbag systems. A visual inspection can quickly be done to identify whether or not an airbag system is installed. Driver side airbags are located within the steering wheel, while passenger airbags are usually located above the glove box.

Essentially, airbags consist of 3 main components; Crash Sensors, Inflator System and the inflatable Airbag.

Crash sensors, located in the front and rear areas of the car, as well as the passenger cabin, measure the force of impact of the accident and sends a signal to trigger the inflator unit. To minimize premature deployment, crash sensors are designed to engage if the car is going at least 12 miles per hour.

The inflator unit can deploy the inflatable airbag at speeds up to 100 miles an hour.

The final component is the fabric based Inflatable airbag. When the airbag is deployed, it is inflated immediately, (less than a blink of an eye) along with talcum powder or cornstarch for lubrication.

Small children in car seats are highly susceptible to injury if located in the front seat during an accident. It is highly recommended to re-locate children to the rear of the vehicle. If you have to have the car seat in the front passenger area, it is recommended that you disable the airbag deployment system to avoid injury.

Advances in technology are positively impacting airbag system designs by calculating the size, weight and seat placement of the occupant. Calculating this information, along with the severity of the crash, the system can inflate the airbag in various stages to minimize injury and still provide protection during the crash.

AIRBAG INJURIES

Injuries to Children in Motor Vehicle Accidents

Every year, thousands of American children are either injured or killed in motor vehicle accidents. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) reports that the leading causes of accidental child (aged 14 and under) injuries and death are due to motor vehicle collisions.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control and other, it was found that 1451 children between the ages of 0-15 died due to vehicle-related death in the year 2005. Among these, nearly half the children died because they were unrestrained or improperly restrained. The leading cause of children death was found to be airbag injury, while the second cause was pedestrian injury between the ages 1-2.

What are the Causes of Children Death and Injury due to Vehicular Accident?

Following were identified as the most likely causes:

Improper installation of child safety seats
Improper use of booster seats or safety seats
Placing children close to the airbag in the front passenger seat
Letting children ride in the cargo area of pickup trucks
Leaving them unattended in cars
Pedestrian Injury

How to Prevent Injuries to Children in Motor Vehicle Accidents?

Tips to prevent injuries to children in motor vehicle accidents are:

Proper Use of Safety Restraints: Since children are physically small, safety belts designed for average adults do not fit them properly. However, it may not be appropriate to place adult shoulder belts without the safety of booster seat (for those who have outgrown their safety seats).

Proper Use of Child Safety Seats: Majority of children safety seats have been found to be either improperly installed or are used when vehicles are checked. Some of the mistakes that are overlooked - safety belt do not hold the seat correctly, the harness straps in safety belts are not routed correctly, etc.

Avoid the Danger of Airbags: Airbags when properly used can save lives of adults. But the same airbag can cause fatal injury to head and neck of children when they are placed too close to them, in the front seat. Experts suggest that the safest place for young children inside the car is the rear seat, which is away from the impact of head on collisions.

Avoid Placing Children in the Cargo Area of Pickup Trucks: Because of space constraint, many adults are forced to place their kids or young children in the cargo areas of pickup trucks. However, this can increase the risk of dying ten times in children when there is collision. Covered cargo areas can also pose danger because of risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Avoid Leaving Your Children Unattended in Cars: Children, being inquisitive in nature, may like to explore the car; they can lock themselves in the car trunk. Living them unattended can be dangerous. Moreover, cold temperature or heat build up inside the car can also become dangerous to the safety of children.

AIRBAG INJURIES

How Airbags Save Lives

Safety is a concern for all drivers. Since the late 1980's, airbags have proven to reduce the risk of severe injuries and death in vehicle collisions. Today, airbags are standard in vehicles and their technology continues to evolve to provide improved safety on the road.

The airbags that most drivers are familiar with are the front driver and passenger airbags. These airbags are built into the steering wheel and the dash of the vehicle. When a car is in a crash, sensors within the vehicle communicate with the airbag telling it to inflate. Gas is then released to fill the airbag in about one twentieth of a second. The bag provides a cushion for the driver or passenger to collide with as opposed to the windshield. In newer vehicles, the amount of air that the bag fills with depends on the severity of the crash. This can ensure that the victim is met with the proper amount of protection and a reduced risk of injury.

Side airbags are another common type of airbag in a vehicle. These airbags are designed to protect the head and chest of those involved in a side impact crash. They can be hidden in the roof, door or seat of a vehicle. Unlike front airbags, side airbags are not required by law to be in a vehicle. However, studies show that close to 1,000 lives each year would be saved and about 1,000 serious injuries could be prevented if every car in the U.S. was equipped with a side head airbag.

New innovations in airbags continue to be tested and developed by the auto industry. Recent introductions include knee airbags. These are made to protect the lower body of the driver and to also prevent them from sliding down during a crash. Rear curtain and rear center airbags have also been introduced to further protect back seat passengers from side impact collisions.

Airbags, like all safety features, are not without their faults. Children are at a great risk of injury from airbags. For this reason, they should never be placed in the front seat. Children and infants should be placed in the back seat in a rear facing car seat for as long as possible. There are also increased risks for drivers and passengers that sit less than ten inches from the airbag as the force of the bag can cause injury when very close. Constant innovations, such as switches to turn certain airbags off, will hopefully make some of these concerns obsolete.

Simply put, airbags save lives in an auto accident. Since their introduction, it has been estimated that airbags have reduced crash fatalities by 30% and severe injuries by about 29%. When airbags are combined with seat belts, the percentage rises even higher. As the number of cars on the road continues to increase, safety is a major concern. Features such as airbags, when used properly, can help to protect passengers and drivers on the road.

AIRBAG INJURIES

Airbags and Their Injuries

Airbags, a mandatory feature of cars since 1998, have a long history of use in the automobile industry. General Motors first offered airbags as an option for passenger seats in its 1973 Oldsmobile Toronado. In 1974 and 1975, these options were expanded to the driver's side. Unfortunately, these airbags had some serious design flaws which were responsible for a number of deaths that were caused solely by the airbags. Because of this, GM discontinued the idea for roughly a decade. In 1984, Ford re-introduced the idea of the air bag, with some changes to the design, in the Ford Tempo. The idea stuck that time and they became a standard feature of most cars by 1994. In 1998, they became a mandatory feature of all cars.

Airbags must inflate very rapidly to be effective. They commonly come out of a steering wheel hub or the passenger side dashboard at speeds over 100 miles per hour. When an airbag deploys, passengers inside a car commonly experience minor injuries such as slight abrasions or burns. While these consequences may be unfavorable, they are much preferred to more serious injuries.

Sometimes, however, serious or fatal injuries occur. These more serious injuries occur when an individual sits very close to or in direct contact with the airbag module when it deploys. This type of injury may be sustained by an unconscious driver who is slumped over the steering wheel or improperly or unrestrained passengers who slide forward during any pre-crash braking that may occur. In addition, properly restrained individuals who sit very close to the steering wheel are also at risk for serious airbag injuries.

Because of the possibility for injury due to sitting too closely to the steering wheel, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends that drivers sit with a minimum of ten inches between their sternum and the center of the steering wheel. It is also considered a good idea not to attach objects to an airbag module or to place objects on the airbag module since they can be projected with great force through the car when the airbags deploy. This can cause serious injuries.

National guidelines also advise not allowing children under the age of 12 to sit in the front seat when airbags are present. They should sit in the backseat of the car, properly restrained, if the car features airbags. In addition, rear-facing baby seats should never be placed in the front seat if there are airbags. A rear-facing baby seat places an infant's head closer to the airbag module. When the airbag deploys, the proximity of the infant's head to the airbag can lead to severe head injuries or death.

Despite the hazards of airbags, the chances of serious injuries are greater when airbags do not deploy. If you would like more information concerning defective airbags, contact the Milwaukee personal injury lawyers of Habush, Habush, & Rottier, S.C. at 1-800-242-7205.

AIRBAG INJURIES

Advantages of Buying Airbags

To date, there are many safety measures being used by vehicle manufacturers, in which air bags have emerged as one of the most beneficial safety products. These air bags help drivers to protect themselves from many types of minor or serious injuries during an accident. The manufactures of these bags are using advanced technologies in order to improve their quality. Here is a quick review why air bags are necessary and what sorts of precautions you should consider while driving. In addition, we will also discuss the emergence of specialty salvage airbag distributors.

Traffic history reports have shown that the number of accidents is increasing day by day all over the world. That's why there has been a huge demand for vehicles equipped with advanced safety features like air bags. The bottom line is, airbags protect our body from serious injuries that might have occurred in there absence. There importance in saving lives are well documented and no one should drive without them. These advanced systems deploy and catch our bodies as they move in all directions during an impact.

These lifesaving devices play a significant role rescuing occupants from serious injuries so we should never drive without them. However, it is still very important to use your seat belts as they work in conjunction with the airbags. During an accident, new seat belt technology quickly secures you to the back of the seat to help reduce the airbag from directly impacting your body. Therefore, most people think that air bags are enough to protect them but in reality, it is not true. It is the combination of both airbags and seat belts that puts you in the best position to escape injury.

Presently, there are many types' of airbags available in the market that provides safety from various types of injuries. These devices are designed to protect not only the driver of the vehicle, but passengers are also protected from suffering injuries as well. The main purpose of the air bags is to reduce the injury level caused by an accident. Therefore, airbags now deploy from the sides and roof to protect all occupants.

Generally, it is observed that our upper body parts are at maximum risk when you're involved in an accident.

Therefore, protecting the neck, head and torso are the most critical. However, increasing the amount of airbags installed in a vehicle has also dramatically raised the cost of rebuilding cars and insurance companies generally consider the car a total lost when some or all airbags deploy.

It is no wonder that recycled air bags are in high demand. Auto dealers are turning to specialized companies who only deal with salvaged replacement airbags as a viable source to make rebuilding cars more affordable. Although there are many auto dealers who still make you sign a waiver that the car is not equipped with airbags. Other dealers are finding it a better option to install recycled airbags from specialty replacement airbag companies. If you are considering to buy a car without airbags just based on your budget than equipping the vehicle with used replacement airbag sounds like a reasonable option.

AIRBAG INJURIES

Airbag Failure Can Happen to You, Take Recalls Seriously - Faulty Airbags Cause Injury and Death

I recently saw a commercial on television advertising that a certain vehicle has 10 airbags which comes as standard equipment. I wonder how many people will run out and buy that car thinking that their families are totally safe because of those airbags.

Many people drive off the lot feeling safe and secure and then never give another thought to those airbags until they deploy in an accident or when they don't deploy.

Safercar.gov states that frontal airbags saved 25,782 lives between the years of 1987 and 2008. That is truly amazing! That is what airbags were designed to do. Unfortunately, airbags don't always deploy when they are supposed to deploy. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that between the years of 2001 and 2006, approximately 1400 people died in head-on collisions alone when their airbags failed to deploy. Even those who survive these types of accidents can receive severe injuries to their:

· Head;

· Brain;

· Neck;

· Face;

· Eyes;

· Back;

· Torso

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.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOUR AIR BAG FAILED CAUSING INJURY OR DEATH

There can be many reasons for an airbag to fail. One is obviously that the airbag and/or system is defective. We have seen countless recalls of automobiles for this reason. Another reason can be as simple as the size of a person. Airbags were designed with a 5' 8", 180 pound man in mind. Most people do not fall into that height and weight category.

In addition to airbags failing to deploy,we've discussed them deploying when they shouldn't. There have been instances of airbags deploying for absolutely no reason whatsoever. Again, there have been many recalls on these vehicles. The inadvertent deployment of an airbag can directly cause an accident.

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 www.DreamLegalTeam.com and fill out an online consultation form or call my office at 1-800-603-6833. It is quick, easy, the consultation is free and the claim you save may be your own!

AIRBAG INJURIES

Defective Airbag Accidents

Airbags have become a valuable safety resource in the modern-day automobile. They have helped prevent many accidents from developing into serious or even fatal ones. However, cases of defective airbags not going off when they are supposed to and going off when they are not supposed to happen often as well, causing personal injury to those who should have never been susceptible to injury.

A defective airbag is always the responsibility of the company that produced it. Sometimes an airbag will not receive enough tests to ensure it will work properly in an accident before it is put on the market. Other times companies will overlook a faulty case to save money. And even other times it can be a simple mistake in its installation. Regardless, when you purchase a vehicle that promises airbags, anytime they cause injury, you deserve retribution.

There are several different ways an airbag can be defective and cause you unnecessary harm :

A failure to deploy or late deployment can cause drivers and passengers to suffer the type of accidents an airbag is supposed to prevent (bodily collision with the window, steering wheel, or dashboard). In late deployment, not only are you susceptible to the injuries an airbag is supposed to prevent, but you can receive additional injuries if it goes off when you are too close to it.

Airbags can also deploy at improper angles. They are designed to come out at a specific angle to give you the best protection it can offer. If the airbag comes out incorrectly, it can collide with a passenger's body in an unnatural and unsafe way.

Then there are situations when the airbag goes off when it doesn't need to. When airbags do deploy, they come out quickly and powerfully to counter the impact of an accident. Unnecessary deployment of an airbag in a minor collision can put drivers and passengers in the way of injuries they would have never received had the airbags not come out at all. There are also incidents of airbags deploying for no reason. In these incidences, not only are people in the car susceptible to the injuries the deployment of an airbag can cause, but an arbitrary deployment can restrict the driver's visibility of the road, leading to an accident.

Sometimes an airbag will deploy at the right time, but it will come out with overpowering force. If the airbag is deployed too quickly and violently, it can cause injury or death to whomever it's supposed to protect. With this in mind, children or small adults are more likely to be injured by an airbag than a fully grown adult. It is a good idea to have children and smaller people sit in the backseat to avoid extraneous injury.

If you suffer from any of these airbag defects, there is compensation to be paid by the company who supplied you with the vehicle. Most companies (personal injury firms, defective airbag accident attorneys) that will help you receive compensation will first offer to look at your situation for free to determine if you have a legitimate case. Oftentimes they will make use of the "black box" in the vehicle, which records information about the severity of an accident as well as if the airbags were deployed properly. This information will help you get what you deserve.

AIRBAG INJURIES

Airbag Defects

Although automobile airbags were originally invented as an alternative to seat-belts, they were eventually adopted as a complimentary safety device. As of April 1, 1981, government legislation required that all automobiles come equipped with airbags. When properly deployed, airbags help cushion an individual against the force of impact during a collision. Unfortunately, there have been many cases in which the safety feature did not properly deploy, causing unnecessary injury to the individuals involved in the collision.

When safety features are not properly engaged, the risk of injury or death dramatically increases. Although it is the responsibility of the driver and all passengers to make sure they are properly restrained in the vehicle, it is much more difficult for the individual to ensure the airbags will deploy properly.

Common Airbag Defects

Common defects often involve airbags that:

o Inflated too late.

o Inflated too soon.

o Failed to inflate at all.

Injuries Caused by Defective Airbags:

When airbags are not properly deployed, individuals inside the automobile may suffer injuries due to the safety failure. Common injuries include:

o Impact injuries when the airbags failed to inflate.

o Injuries to the face due to impact with the inflating airbag.

o Injuries from the front or side panels caused by the inflating airbag.

Airbags are designed to provide an extra degree of protection in the event of a collision. It is important that drivers on U.S. roadways exercise caution at all times, obey the rules of the road, and be aware of their surroundings and the actions of other drivers. In the event of a collision, safety features like anti-lock brakes, seat belts, and airbags may help drivers and passengers avoid serious injury or death.

If an airbag fails to properly deploy due to defective manufacturing or installation, the injured parties may be entitled to compensation for pain, suffering, and medical bills. For more information on defective airbags, visit the website of the Madison airbag defect lawyers of Habush Habush & Rottier, S.C.

AIRBAG INJURIES

México y Brasil ponen límites para su comercio de automóviles - La Crónica de Hoy

Brasil y México acordaron el jueves poner límites a su comercio bilateral de vehículos livianos, tras amenazas del gigante sudamericano de romper un acuerdo automotriz si no lograba bajar la creciente entrada de autos mexicanos a su territorio.

Después de agrias disputas, las dos mayores economías de América Latina renegociaron algunas condiciones, de forma temporal, del Acuerdo de Complementación Económica 55 (ACE-55) del 2002, y que durante muchos años permitió a Brasil de gozar de un abultado superávit comercial de autos con su socio.

Pero cuando en el 2011 vio un déficit de 1,170 millones de dólares por ese rubro, en medio de una sobrevaluación de su moneda que inundó su mercado de importaciones baratas, decidió presionar por un sistema de cuotas para frenar la entrada de autos mexicanos competitivos.

Así, las dos naciones convinieron el jueves fijar unos límites al valor de las exportaciones de autos con un "régimen temporal incremental" de 1,450 millones de dólares en el primer año; 1,560 millones en el segundo y 1,640 millones de dólares en el 2014.

"Una vez transcurrido este periodo se continuarán aplicando todas las disposiciones del ACE 55 como hasta ahora, es decir, habrá libre comercio para vehículos ligeros", dice un comunicado leído al final de las negociaciones del miércoles y jueves por el secretario de Economía de México, Bruno Ferrari.

Un funcionario mexicano dijo días atrás a Reuters que su país había exportado a Brasil vehículos por un valor de 2,400 millones de dólares en 2011 y que cualquier cuota debía tomar como límite ese monto.

Pero las presiones por conseguir un rápido y beneficioso acuerdo provinieron de la propia presidenta brasileña, Dilma Rousseff, que argumentó que debía proteger a la industria automotriz de su país, castigada por la sobrevaluación de la moneda.

MAS CONTENIDO REGIONAL

Respecto a las demandas brasileñas de incrementar el contenido regional de piezas en los autos que se comercian en el marco del acuerdo, las dos naciones acordaron incrementarlo desde el actual 30 por ciento a 35 por ciento en el primer año y a partir del quinto año aplicar un 40 por ciento.

Y en cuanto a las demandas de Brasil para liberar el comercio hasta hoy restringido de vehículos pesados, se acordó hacer consultas "para alcanzar un acceso recíproco y la homologación de las normas técnicas y ambientales".

México, al que Brasil incluso puso como suerte de ultimátum para las negociaciones el viernes pasado, no quiere perder acceso al valioso consumidor brasileño, que le ha ayudado en gran medida a disparar sus exportaciones hacia América Latina ante menores ventas en Estados Unidos, su principal mercado.

Gracias a la fuerte demanda en el gigante sudamericano, las exportaciones de vehículos livianos de México a Brasil se han disparado en los últimos cincos años hasta alcanzar un máximo de 147,535 unidades en el 2011, casi el doble que el año previo.

La industria automotriz mexicana dijo el martes que las cuotas a las exportaciones de su país debían ser temporales y que la renegociación de las condiciones no arreglan los problemas de competitividad en Brasil.

"El regresar al libre comercio lo más pronto posible resulta fundamental para que las inversiones y el empleo sigan fluyendo y se sigan dando en nuestro país", dijo por su parte Eduardo Solís, presidente de la Asociación Mexicana de la Industria Automotriz (AMIA).

"Es claro que las importaciones que hace Brasil en el ACE-55 de vehículos provenientes de México no representa más del dos por ciento de sus importaciones totales", agregó.

Las firmas que más exportan autos desde México son Ford , General Motors y Volkswagen.

La disputa entre las dos más grandes economías de Latinoamérica puso en riesgo más de 4,000 millones de dólares anuales, alrededor del 45 por ciento del comercio bilateral en el 2011 y dejaba en el limbo conversaciones para un futuro acuerdo bilateral de libre comercio más amplio.

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Ciclistas apuestan por incrementar el uso de bicicleta en ciudad ... - La Vanguardia

Dicen que ciudades como Madrid están construidas para los coches pero que las bicis se pueden utilizar

MADRID, 17 (EUROPA PRESS)

Cada vez hay más ciudadanos que optan por la bicicleta para moverse por las ciudades, dado que, según los propios usuarios, es un medio de transporte "muy barato, muy económico y divertido" además de ser una alternativa que, a diferencia de otros medios como los automóviles, no contamina, explica José Ginés, miembro del movimiento Bici Crítica.

En un momento en que los niveles de contaminación de la ciudad de Madrid ya superan en 14 puntos los máximos permitidos por la Unión Europea, hay muchos ciudadanos que hacen una apuesta firme por la bicicleta y la combinan con el transporte público.

Ése es el caso de Ginés, quien en declaraciones a Europa Press Televisión, ha señalado que una vez que aprendes a manejarte entre el tráfico, la circulación no es tan peligrosa como parece. "Yo tengo la posibilidad de ir a trabajar en coche, también podría ir en moto, pero lo que más me gusta y lo más rápido es la bicicleta, la combino con el abono transporte y el tren de cercanías y a mi es lo que mejor me resulta"

En este sentido, ha defendido los beneficios de la bicicleta, que "es un vehículo que no contamina frente al transporte privado o motorizado". Así, ha destacado que aunque "el transporte público en Madrid se utiliza mucho, el 30% de los desplazamientos que se hacen dentro de Madrid son en coche privado", algo que aún se puede reducir con determinadas prácticas por parte de los ciudadanos en lo que a desplazamieno y transporte se refiere.

De este modo, Ginés ha lamentado que la mayoría de ocasiones, los vehículos van ocupados por una sola persona y las velocidades medias que alcanza el coche en el interior de ciudad son incluso inferiores a las que se puede llegar si se circula en bicicleta. El tiempo que el usuario emplea en encontrar aparcamiento es otro de los aspectos negativos que tiene el coche frente a la bici.

TRÁFICO EN MADRID

"El modelo de movilidad basado en el coche privado se ha demostrado que no funciona. Un trozo de la M-30 tiene siete carriles dirección norte y siete dirección sur y por las mañanas está prácticamente atascada en dirección norte; la velocidad que consiguen en hora punta no creo que supere los 8 km por hora mientras una bicicleta en ciudad puede alcanzar entre 12/15km por hora de media", ha matizado.

Así, algunas ciudades como Madrid están construidas "por y para los coches" y aunque no están adaptadas para ir en bicicleta, sí se puede utilizar; por ese motivo Ginés recomienda evitar las calles con mucho tráfico y pendientes, y circular por las que son seguras y cómodas. Este ciclista propone varios métodos para fomentar el empleo de la bicicleta, entre ellos, incrementar la creación del carril bici en los núcleos urbanos.

Sin embargo hay alternativas que conllevan un menor coste económico, como por ejemplo, tomar medidas de pacificación del tráfico, es decir, poner elementos físicos en la ciudad que impidan que los vehículos puedan circular a más de 70 km/hora. Así pues, a juicio de Ginés, se puede hacer la ciudad de otra manera, con menos carriles y con menos tiempo de espera en los semáforos.

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El auto no es la cosa, sino los impuestos - El Observador

+ - 15.03.2012, 10:29 hs - ACTUALIZADO 12:51 Texto: -A / A+

El costo de un auto en Uruguay por lo menos se duplica debido a la carga impositiva que conlleva por Importación, IMESI e IVA, según se informó en al anuario 2011 de la Asociación del Comercio Automotor de Uruguay (ACAU).

La publicación señala que el total de impuestos de IVA más IMESI fue de US$564 millones, lo que equivale al presupuesto del Ministerio del Interior o al doble del presupuesto del Ministerio de Transporte y Obras Públicas.

Por favor inicie sesión para comentar: Mathias Insua - 16.03.2012 - 13:53 hs Disculpe Alberto, pero no todos tenemos la posibilidad de tener 2 casas y 2 autos en 2 paises. con los altos precios de los bienes basicos y necesarios apenas da para poder ahorrar algo, teniendo un trabajo de sueldo aceptable, digamos 15.000 pesos. en uruguay comprar un auto que tiene unos 15 años, que en cualquier parte del mundo ya ni se usan, cuesta 7 mil 8 mil dolares por ejemplo. es una verguenza que aca en uruguay no se pueda tener en una familia un auto "normal", nada de autos alemanes ni eso. todavia los transportes publicos salen cada vez mas con precios que son de no creer. la verdad que estando en su situacion economica es sencillo decir que esta todo barbaro. ya que la salud publica esta tambien aca me gustaria preguntarle en que policlinica se atiende, clinicas, maciel? ah, se atiende en privada. me parecia. entonces le pido que baje a tierra un rato a ver la realidad y despues puede volver tranquilamente a su burbuja.Juan Garcia - 15.03.2012 - 23:17 hs En Uruguay cada vez hay mas autos, y las calles son las mismas de hace cincuenta años. Ni que hablar que en materia de calidad llevan los peores modelos. Has viso acaso un automovil automatico en Montevideo? y ESO DE QUE UN VIDRIO LO ARREGLAS POR 500 PESOS, SOLAMENTE SI COMPRAS UNO ROBADO, EN ESE CASO CLARO QUE TENES RAZON.PORQUE SI JUGAS POR LA DERECHA TENES QUE COMPRARLO IMPORTADO Y PAGANDO IMPUESTOS DE IMPORTADO. Y SOBRE AUTOS VIEJOS, QUE SE DEPRECIAN, AQUI LA GENTE COMPRA Y TIRA PORQUE GANA LO SUFICIENTE PARA ESO. UNA FAMILIA TIPO GANA ENTRE 50 Y 80 MIL DOLARES ANUALES. USA UNA CALCULADORA Y DESPUES HABLA COSAS COHERENTES, ESTIMADO ALBERTO. Juan Garcia - 15.03.2012 - 23:13 hs Alberto en USA, el que vive una fantasia sos vos hermano. Todos quieren vivir en USA y los que vivimos aqui, ninguno nos quejamos. Te devuelven mucho. Carreteras amplias y seguras, ningun bache en las calles, manejas autos del año y los disfrutas en el año. La nafta vale tres veces menos que en Uruguay y un automovil del 2008-09 te sale lo mismo que en Uruguay et cuesta uno del 92-93. Mira loos clasificados por favor.!! Hay vigilancia permanente, o sea, lo que se paga en impuestos te lo devuelven en limpieza de calles, alumbrado, seguridad, o sea, jamas te robaran el automvil ni necesidad de que te estafen. No es el paraiso, pero, si mira el Uruguay, si lo es.Los ujnicos que critican comov os, son los que NO PUEDEN VIVIR AQUI. Zelmar Olano - 15.03.2012 - 20:37 hs Hya que suir más esos impuestos, así le damos más recursos a ASSE y le pagamos mejor a la policía.- 15.03.2012 - 19:52 hs Sr Alberto: Perdone mi curiosidad, pero si vivir en USA es poco menos que vivir en el infierno y en contrapropuesta vivir en Uruguay es como vivir en el Paraíso, yo quisiera saber, ¿Po qué no se queda todo el año en el Paraíso? Tengo parientes en Canadá, En USA, en España y en Inglaterra y he visitado a los de USA, España y Canadá, y si bien reconozco que no son ni mucho menos el Paraíso, si estuviera en mis posibilidades, vivirá en cualquiera de esos 3 lugares y no en Uruguay, que tampoco voy a decir que sea el infierno, pero que es un país extremadamente caro para vivir y que lo que se paga en impuestos no se retribuye en calidad de vida y lo que es peor, se usa para mantener a los que nunca pagan nada, ni impuestos, ni patentes, y mucho menos servicios públicos ya que viven colgados de todo. Y eso estimado Alberto, nadie lo puede negar.alberto rodriguez - 15.03.2012 - 19:03 hs los autos usados ademas salen muy baratos pues la mano de obra para repararlos es carisima y la depreciacion en el mercado es muy alta, entonces lo vehiculos despues de 6 años no valen ni la cuarta parte de su valor original pues arreglarle un trend elantero a un auto no baja de 1500 dolares dependiendo la procedencia del auto. un taller no baj de 70 dolares la hora, entonces la gente prefiere sacarselos de encima antes de que se pongan viejos y por eso se deprecian. el dia que se te rompe la caja de cambio, lo tenes que tirar, reparar una maquinalevanta vidiro te sale 200 dolares en montevidoe lo resolves por 500 pesos como caro... hay que hubicarse. en uruguay un auto es una inversion que ademas perdura en los años en el primer mundo un auto es una inversion que se deprecia a una velocidad enorme y uno pierde mucho dinero al tener un auto, pues ademas en algunso paises te obligan a cambiarlo entonces quien gasta mas, un uruguayo que se compra un auto de 10 a 20 y lo tiene durante 10 añs y lo vende en 15 o un americano que lo compra a 10 y a los diez años lo vende en 500 dolares la desguesadero? una cosa es la fantasia y muy otra es vivir alli, hay que espabilarse que estos son cuentos con intereses creados.... alberto rodriguez - 15.03.2012 - 18:56 hs amigo yo no doy versiones, publico resumenes de periodicos españoles, no invento nada. el trabajdor catalan es el mejor pago de toda españa eso lo sabe cualquiera, vaya al sur y vera que la cosa es muy diferente. vamos que los que sael un piso no te lo resuleve el estado portector que con el nuevo goebirno se esta llendo por el caño, esperese nomas uno meses y vera lo que pasa con el estado protector europeo, A todos esto es una ridiculez compara reuropa que tiene promedio un IRPF de mas del doble que el de uruguay, la franja mas alta llega al 50% el combustible es ta al mismo precio o mas caro que en uruguay y son paises que han podido invadir paises productores de petroleo, cosa que nosotros lo uruguayos no hemos podido, por algo en libia se cambio de muñeco... vamso que eurpoa viene robando desde hace siglos para tener el nivel de vida que tiene y tiene empresas multinacionales que aportan para la economica de los paises que uruguay ni sueña tener o acso se cree que en europa se vive como se vivie por lo que se produce en europa? vamso que lo que entra en europa de las colonias y sus empresa multinacionales trabajndo en el resto del mundo es mucho. la verda de la milanesa es que los amigos de 2300 euros lo estan engrupiendo feo al hombre y en estados unidos en donde se pagan menos impuestos que en europa el estado no te da nada a cambio. asi que en uruguay que es un pañuelo si quiere tener auto pagalo que buena parte de ese dinero se la ponen en el bolsillo los vendedores que no dan abasto con la venta de los mismos, Si hubieses verdadera competencia los autos en uruguay valdrian al menos un 30% menos de lo que valen. el verso de los impuestos es para seguir robando a sus clientes a piaccere. Que permitan la libre importacion, que se animen a competir en un mercado abierto, ya veremos como bajan los precios.... no olvidemos que las automotoras en toda eurpoa tiene subvenciones del estado pues dan mucha mano de obra, asi como pasa en EEUU, las fabrica de automoviles y el combustible esta subvencionado.. pues la gente lo usa de manera prioritaria...Yuri Di Bartolomeo - 15.03.2012 - 17:41 hs Opino que ninguno de los dos da versiones ajustradas a la realidad. Un trabajador europeo/catalán gana entre 1000 y 1300 €, que le rinden muchísmo debido a un Estado protector que a pesar de la crisis te resuelve muchas de tus necesidades básicas y hace que el sueldo rinda mucho.Tenenr un coche es normal para cualquier persona, incluso para un indigente. Tener un BMW, Audi, Mercedes o Volvo es cosa de ricos como en todo el mundo.alberto rodriguez - 15.03.2012 - 15:53 hs A mediados de agosto llegó una carta a este periódico que anunciaba la aparición de una nueva clase social. Se titulaba Soy mileurista y decía, entre otras cosas, lo siguiente: "El mileurista es aquel joven licenciado, con idiomas, posgrados, másters y cursillos (...) que no gana más de 1.000 euros. Gasta más de un tercio de su sueldo en alquiler, porque le gusta la ciudad. No ahorra, no tiene casa, no tiene coche, no tiene hijos, vive al día... A veces es divertido, pero ya cansa (...)". La autora, Carolina Alguacil, de 27 años, reside en el centro de Barcelona y trabaja en una agencia de publicidadalberto rodriguez - 15.03.2012 - 15:51 hs lea amigo desaznese y digale a sus amigos europeos que lo dejen de enguipir mal...http://elpais.com/diario/2005/10/23/domingo/1130038892_850215.html

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Un coche de director general ´para el chico´ - levante.emv.com

RAFEL MONTANER, RIBA-ROJA "¿Dígame alguno que esté bien?" "¿Cuál es el mejor?" Estas son las preguntas que más escucharon ayer los empleados de la Conselleria de Hacienda y Administraciones Públicas encargados de la exposición de los 42 vehículos oficiales que la Generalitat subastará el próximo sábado 21 de abril. Ante ellos 37 vehículos Ford Mondeo 2.0 (140 CV) Sedan y otros 5 Ford Focus 1.6 (100 CV) Sedan. Todos ellos de color azul y de gasolina.

Y es esta última circunstancia la gran pega que ponen los futuros compradores de esta primera subasta de coches oficiales de directores generales y otros altos cargos que impulsa la Generalitat dentro de su plan de medidas de ahorro.

Así, un hombre vestido con un mono de faena se despide del guarda de acceso al Centro de Archivos y Logística que la Generalitat tiene en Riba-roja con un "Ya están vistos. No interesan, son todos de gasolina".
Como él, la mayoría de las cerca de 20 personas que en la mañana de ayer acudieron a Riba-roja durante el primer día de apertura de la exposición - que se puede visitar los lunes, martes y miércoles de 12 a 14 horas, y de 17 a 19 horas- iban en busca de un coche diesel.

De este modo, Francisco, un vecino de Sedaví, que acude en busca de un coche barato "para el chico" - dice mirando a su hijo-, da pie a una escena propia de un concesionario de coches de segunda mano cuando se dirige al personal de la conselleria. "Estamos viendo que son todos gasolina, y al precio que está ...!" "Pero hombre, si la gasolina es ya más barata que el diesel", le replica el técnico de la Generalitat. "Ya, pero el motor de gasoil consume un 33% menos... ", añade. "Pero, las averías del diesel son más caras", retruca el funcionario trasmutado en vendedor de coches. "Es verdad, lo que no se va en suspiros se va en lágrimas", asiente Francisco ya casi medio convencido.

Mientras, su hijo, que quizás pronto conduzca un coche de director general, se sorprende de que "están impecables" tanto por fuera como por dentro. "Están bien, porque seguro que los altos cargos los han cuidado", tercia el padre. En este sentido, el personal de conselleria recurre a los tópicos del manual del buen vendedor: "Tienen hechas todas las revisiones en servicios oficiales, han sido conducidos por un solo chófer, siempre han estado en garaje, se han usado para trayectos largos y tienen la ITV pasada, y su kilometraje es real". Además, a quién lo pida, están dispuestos a facilitarles el histórico de las averías del vehículo.

"Como mucho pujaré 200 euros más"
Además de los padres a la caza de un coche barato para sus hijos, la otra gran mayoría de visitantes de la exposición son parejas con niños pequeños que buscan un vehículo más grande al crecer la familia. En esta casuística está Alexei, que viene de Alzira con su pareja y su hijo de seis meses.

"Me hace falta un coche más grande, el nuestro con el bebé se ha quedado pequeño", dice. Le ha echado el ojo a un Mondeo de 9 años con 243.742 km y un precio de salida de 1.945 euros - uno de los ocho más caros -. Observa hasta el último detalle, así se fija hasta en si el pomo del cambio de marchas está rozado para ver el uso que se le ha dado al automóvil.

"Está bien mantenido - continúa -, pero tiene muchos kilómetros y es de gasolina... El precio es bueno, pero como mucho pujaré 200 euros más". Ha recogido la información para participar en la subasta, pero cree que será difícil salir de ella sobre ruedas: "Seguro que vendrá gente de concesionarios y ofrecerá mucho por los coches, para luego revenderlos y sacar dinero, pero yo no voy a pagar más".

Los vehículos oficiales pasarán de 150 a 51
Las medidas de ahorro del Consell aspiran a recortar en 91 vehículos los actuales 150 coches oficiales. Un portavoz de la Generalitat explicó ayer que el objetivo es dejar el parque móvil "en 13 automóviles para las conselleries y 37 para el segundo escalón". Tras esta primera subasta "habrá otra en junio con el resto de coches a retirar", añade.

Han recorrido 621 veces la distancia entre Vinaròs y Pilar de la Horadada
Los 42 coches a subasta tienen de media 248.511 km, lo que supone haber hecho hasta 621 veces el trayecto por carretera entre Pilar de la Horadada y Vinaròs, los dos municipios que marcan el límite sur y norte de la Comunitat Valenciana.

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