Airbags are a crucial safety feature in the majority of motor vehicles, but they don’t always work as intended. In 2023, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration demanded the recall of 67 million defective airbags that spewed shrapnel. This is one recent example in a long history of massive airbag recalls.
If you’ve been injured because of a defective airbag in Destin, FL, the legal team at Brannon & Brannon Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers can help you file a claim to recover compensation. Learn more about airbag injuries and what your options are.
Contact our office at (850) 842-2573 for a free case evaluation if you need assistance.
How Brannon & Brannon Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help You With an Airbag Injury Claim in Destin, FL
A defective airbag can result in catastrophic injuries that impact all aspects of your life. You could face significant medical bills, lifelong health issues, and even the loss of your earning potential.
At Brannon & Brannon Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers, our personal injury attorneys in Destin, Florida, offer aggressive representation to help victims recover damages.
We provide comprehensive services that include:
- Assessing your claim
- Investigating the accident and gathering evidence
- Consulting expert witnesses
- Negotiating with insurance companies
- Litigating in court if necessary
Our lawyers have 60 years of combined legal experience helping clients throughout Florida. We know the stress you’re under and how tough it can be to ask for assistance. That’s why we make it a point to provide compassionate guidance. Contact us for a free consultation to speak with a Destin car accident lawyer about your claim.
Airbags and the Injuries They Can Cause
When an airbag doesn’t work as it is meant to, it puts lives at risk. Some airbags don’t deploy at all when you most need them, while others do so with such force that they cause their own injuries. In a significant number of cases, airbags release chemicals or metal elements that can be deadly. Here are some of the most common injuries defective airbags cause.
Burns
Airbags have been known to cause chemical, thermal, and friction burns. Friction burns occur when the airbag’s material rubs against your skin with a lot of force, while chemical and thermal burns result from airbags that explode when they deploy. Burns are not only painful but can also leave scars.
Dislocations and Bone Fractures
An airbag deploys with significant force even when it’s not defective. However, if it hasn’t been calibrated or installed correctly, it can be so powerful it causes fractures and dislocations. Most commonly, people experience wrist, arm, and rib fractures.
Facial Injuries
If an airbag doesn’t deploy, you can hit your head against the steering wheel or glove compartment. This can result in broken teeth, nose fractures, orbital bone breaks, and many other issues that have the potential to leave you disfigured.
Airbags that release chemicals or debris into the vehicle can also cause lacerations to your eyes and lips. These can give you vision problems as well as cause injuries that require reconstructive surgery.
Organ Damage
Hitting your chest against any part of the vehicle could bruise your heart or lungs, which can lead to many health issues that require emergency care. If you break a rib, the bone could pierce organs, too, which could be fatal.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
When an airbag doesn’t deploy, you risk hitting your head. If your brain moves around in your skull from the impact, you could suffer a concussion or even more serious traumatic brain injuries that can be disabling or fatal.
Nerve and Soft Tissue Damage
If an airbag explodes and sends shrapnel through the vehicle’s cabin, you can suffer cuts and penetrating wounds that damage nerves, ligaments, or muscles. When the airbag doesn’t deploy, you can hit yourself against the glass from your window or windshield, as well as a variety of other materials.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries can be extremely severe. If an airbag deploys with too much force, it could lead to spinal cord injuries in the cervical area, while an airbag that doesn’t deploy can lead you to suffer whiplash. Severe whiplash can fracture spinal vertebrae.
Schedule a Free Initial Consultation With Our Destin Airbag Injury Lawyers
If you were involved in an auto accident and suffered airbag injuries, Brannon & Brannon Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers is here to help. Our team will negotiate with insurance companies to help you get fair compensation. Call us to schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced Destin personal injury lawyers.
