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