10 Most Common Airbag Injuries (2023)

FAQs

What are the most common injuries from airbags? ›

Chest injuries including heart injuries due to the impact of the airbag against the chest. Burns on the chest, hands, arms, or face when the fabric of the airbag moves along the skin. Fractures including to the skull, ribs, and wrist bones. Traumatic brain injuries.

Some airbags may inflate too rapidly and burst, or don't inflate quickly enough to cushion the impact of a crash. In addition, certain chemical agents used to enable deployment may cause breathing problems, abrasions, burn injuries, blindness, or hearing loss.

Facial Injuries

The force of the airbag deployment could cause surface abrasions or burns on your face. The airbag could also hit one of your eyes, causing temporary or even permanent blindness. Other eye injuries include corneal abrasions and retinal detachments. The airbag could fracture bones in your face as well.

Air bags reduce the chance that your upper body or head will strike the vehicle's interior during a crash. To avoid an air-bag-related injury, make sure you are properly seated and remember—air bags are designed to work with seat belts, not replace them.

Hitting your chest on the steering wheel, dashboard, seat belt or airbag can cause: Damage to the sternum which can injure your heart, large blood vessels or esophagus. The sternum is your breastbone, which is the long, flat bone located in the center of the chest and connected to your ribs by cartilage.

Airbag deployment generally indicates that the collision was moderate to severe. Therefore, the fact that the airbags deployed supports the other evidence that you sustained severe injuries in the accident. An insurance adjuster may offer a higher settlement amount when the airbags deploy.

Air bags may accidentally deploy. Sometimes an air bag will deploy when a vehicle hits a curb or even a pothole. This accidental or inadvertent deployment can not only directly cause injury to an occupant, it can cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle and have a serious collision.

Typically, a front airbag will deploy for unbelted occupants when the crash is the equivalent of an impact into a rigid wall at 10-12 mph. Most airbags will deploy at a higher threshold — about 16 mph — for belted occupants because the belts alone are likely to provide adequate protection up to these moderate speeds.

The number one tip for airbag safety for short drivers is keeping a safe distance from the air-bag in their steering wheel. NHTSA recommends that there be 10 inches between the air-bag cover and a driver's breastbone.

Nerve damage

Your trigeminal nerve runs through your face and into your neck. If an airbag damages this nerve, you may experience temporary or even permanent paralysis.

Can airbags cause ear damage? ›

A wide variety of airbag-induced otologic injuries occur and may have long-term sequelae. These include temporary or permanent hearing loss, tinnitus, disequilibrium, and otalgia.

Utilize the "5,10,20 Rule." Stay five inches away from side-curtain airbags, 10 inches from the driver's airbag and 20 inches from the passenger airbag.

The airbag module contains both an inflator unit and the lightweight fabric airbag. The airbag system consists of three basic parts: (1) An airbag module, (2) crash sensors, and (3) a diagnostic unit. Some systems may also have an on/off switch, which allows the airbag to be deactivated.

Those labels called for airbags to be replaced after 15 years. But after much research, automakers have concluded that airbags produced after 1992 will last the lifetime of the vehicle. That means that all modern cars that have been built since 1992 contain airbags that should function perfectly.

By April 2021, at least 19 deaths and 400 injuries associated with malfunctioning Takata airbags were reported in the U.S. The NHTSA flagged specific models manufactured by BMW, Ford, Mazda, Honda, and Acura with a high risk of malfunctioning airbags.

You may experience scrapes around any exposed skin from the abrasiveness of the airbag. Airbags can also cause bruises due to the strong force of impact against your body. In some cases, the chemicals in an airbag deployment can lead to chemical burns. The impact of the airbag can also lead to friction burns.

The term encompasses abrasions, burns, irritant contact dermatitis, and erythema that are caused by trauma from the air bag or by gases or substances released along with the air bag.

Generally, the pain will be the worst in the first 24- 48 hours after the initial accident, and hopefully start to lessen after approximately 72 hours.

Sternum and chest injuries caused by airbags

Some of the injuries that an airbag can cause to a driver or passenger involve burns to the chest, sternum fractures, rib fractures, and even an aorta rupture.

Are cars totalled if airbags deploy? ›

Many people believe, and have likely been told, that if the airbags go off after a crash, the vehicle is automatically considered a total loss. This is not true. While a crash that is severe enough to set off the airbags will usually cause enough damage to total the car, it doesn't always.

Airbags deploying alone will not necessarily render a car totaled. Generally, a vehicle could only be considered totaled if the cost of repairing the vehicle will exceed the value of the vehicle.

There's a common misconception that airbag deployment means a car is considered a total loss. While it can signify the result of a violent impact, it does not mean that your vehicle cannot be repaired.

But do you have a case if your airbags do not deploy during a vehicle accident? Yes, you do. If your airbags failed to do their job, then you may pursue legal action against the airbag manufacturer, the car manufacturer, or another liable party.

Deploying the airbag in these crashes will reduce the chances of head injury. This also means that the front airbag will usually not deploy in a side-impact or rear-end collision.

Those mechanical airbag systems are less common now because they're not precise enough. In today's vehicles, if the car has been turned off for a while, the airbags won't deploy if it gets hit; however, if the car is stationary but the engine is running, then the airbags will go off if the car gets hit, Beischel said.

As mentioned above, air bags explode at speeds of 200 MPH for 12 to 18 inches. This is a violent reaction, necessary to have the bag deployed and beginning to slowly deflate when the occupant contacts the bag.

In order to be able to reach the pedals, shorter drivers will often have to slide their seats forward until they are less than 10 inches from the steering wheel. According to the IIHS, 10 inches is the minimum amount of space needed for an airbag to fully deploy before a driver makes contact.

Airbags are not supposed to deploy if seat belts are not being worn. This is because they can cause serious injury or even prove fatal in such deployments. This is not a failsafe mechanism though. Sometimes people bypass the system by using plugs for their seat belts to switch off the alarm.

Because the sensors for airbags are usually in the front-end of a vehicle, a rear-end collision may not trigger a deployment. Depending on the type of vehicle you have, this type of crash could result in your vehicle being declared a total loss, yet no airbags were ever deployed.

Who should never be seated in front of an airbag? ›

Never place an infant in a rear-facing child safety seat in the front seat with an air bag. In a crash, the air bag comes out of the dashboard with its force directed at the back of the infant's head if riding in the front passenger seat. The rear seat is the safest place in the car for children younger than 13 years.

When cars are hit from behind, airbags deploying may cause more damage. As a result, airbags may not deploy during a fender-bender or even a more severe rear-end collision. Unfortunately, that may cause injuries to drivers or passengers.

Chemical keratitis or chemical irritation of the cornea occurs in some airbag deployment incidents. A tear in the cornea, which is the clear front area of the eye, can be caused by a sharp object or impact to the eye and usually heals within two or three days.

It can feel like being kicked in the face and chest by a very strong but fluffy bunny. Airbags are meant to keep you from hitting the hardest parts of your car, like the steering wheel, dashboard, glass windows, or metal doors.

Soreness from Air Bags

This occurs when the airbag deploys and hits the body forcefully. Most people experience only minor discomfort after this type of situation; however, in some instances, the soreness can be more severe. The pain usually goes away within a few days or weeks.

If your body makes contact with the quick and high pressured airbag, it can cause internal damage and bruising. Even if you see no bruises externally, there may be internal bruising as well. Injuries to the rib and pelvis are possible, as well as damage to the organs, abdomen, or bowels.

Common minor airbag injuries include bruises and abrasions. The force of the airbag being released is enough to damage your skin. You may have scrapes or bruises on your face, neck, and arms. Burns may also occur due to certain chemicals that are needed to deploy airbags during a car accident.

Flexor Tendon Rupture: This is the most common type of arm injury caused by an airbag deploying. The flexor tendon is located in the forearm and is responsible for bending the elbow.

“To prevent stretching yourself too thin financially, the 1/10th rule for buying cars dictates that you should only spend 1/10th of your gross annual income on a vehicle, whether new or used. For example, if you make $60,000 annually, you should only spend $6,000 on a vehicle.

Side airbags will be soon offered on all cars as 6 airbags will be made mandatory. These airbags protect the occupants in case of a side impact.

What are 3 pre driving adjustments to make if your vehicle is equipped with airbags? ›

A huge amount of nitrogen gas immediately rushes out with an explosion and fills the airbag. It is amazing that from the time the sensor detects the collision to the time the airbag is fully inflated is only 30 milliseconds, or three one-hundredths of a second! A normal blink of your eye is 100 milliseconds.

An igniter in the inflator starts a chemical reaction that produces a harmless gas, which inflates the air bag within the blink of an eye – or less than 1/20th of a second.

Long-term exposure to high heat and humidity can cause these air bags to explode when deployed. Such explosions have caused injuries and deaths. NHTSA urges vehicle owners to take a few simple steps to protect themselves and others from this very serious threat to safety.

In a post on Facebook, Child Seat Safety says children below the age of 12-years-old 'are the most at risk when the frontal airbag deploys in a crash'.

"Note also that the effectiveness of a belt-bag system is somewhat less than the sum of the effectiveness ratings of its two components. …" The study says belts are 48 percent effective in preventing fatalities, while airbags are 14 percent effective. But added together, they're just 53.72 percent effective.

Typically, a front airbag will deploy for unbelted occupants when the crash is the equivalent of an impact into a rigid wall at 10-12 mph. Most airbags will deploy at a higher threshold — about 16 mph — for belted occupants because the belts alone are likely to provide adequate protection up to these moderate speeds.

The healing time for airbag injuries varies depending on the type of injury. Minor injuries, such as bruises and cuts, usually heal within a few days. More serious injuries, such as fractures and tendon ruptures, can take weeks or months to heal completely.

The number one tip for airbag safety for short drivers is keeping a safe distance from the air-bag in their steering wheel. NHTSA recommends that there be 10 inches between the air-bag cover and a driver's breastbone.

For unbelted occupants, a front airbag will typically deploy when the crash is the equivalent of an impact into a rigid wall at 10-12 mph. For belted occupants, most airbags will deploy at a higher threshold — about 16 mph — because the belts alone are likely to provide adequate protection up to these moderate speeds.

Can an airbag cause blunt force trauma? ›

There are two main types of burn injuries that can occur as a result of an airbag deployment: thermal burns and ballistic burns. In addition to these physical burn injuries, other forms of trauma – such as blunt force trauma, whiplash, and cuts – are also common outcomes when an airbag is deployed.

Soreness from Air Bags

This occurs when the airbag deploys and hits the body forcefully. Most people experience only minor discomfort after this type of situation; however, in some instances, the soreness can be more severe. The pain usually goes away within a few days or weeks.

If your airbag deploys during a collision, chances are the impact was sufficient to cause a disabling personal injury. The first thing you should do is call 9-1-1 and stabilize any serious problems. If necessary, seek medical attention.

The working pressures for air bag lifting systems range from 7 psi up to 145 psi. **Note: Another common unit of pressure used with airbags is "bar”. 1 bar = 100 kPa = 14.5 psi.

Similarly, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports: “To perform well, an air bag must deploy quickly and forcefully. The force is greatest in the first 2-3 inches after the air bag bursts through its cover and begins to inflate. Those 2-3 inches are the 'risk zone' . . . .

You should always keep 5 lbs. of air pressure in your air bags to prevent any damage. 5 lbs. will not affect your ride but will ensure your air bags last.

Yes, you can sue if your airbags did not deploy during an accident. However, there might be multiple parties you can sue in such a situation, which is why you should consult an attorney to learn more about your legal options. While airbags should deploy when accidents occur, there are times when they might not.

Most totaled cars after an accident have had their airbags deployed. But it's never the airbags that cause a car to be totaled; it's the accident. Your insurance provider is the one who estimates how much the repairs will be and makes the final call.

On average, one can expect to pay anywhere from $200-$800 per airbag module/assembly. However, this price only covers the cost of parts and excludes any labor. Installation alone will easily cost another $150-$300 per airbag.

Falls, collisions, or blows with a blunt instrument such as a hammer, brick, bat, fist, or pipe typically result in blunt force injury.

Can an airbag break your sternum? ›

Some of the injuries that an airbag can cause to a driver or passenger involve burns to the chest, sternum fractures, rib fractures, and even an aorta rupture.