It might surprise you to learn that airbags have been around since the 1970s. General Motors probably did not know back then that its lifesaving innovation would become mandatory in all U.S. cars just a few decades later.
Despite the fact that the IIHS says frontal airbags reduce driver fatalities by 29 percent, they can be harmful, too. A savvy personal injury attorney knows that you can walk away from a crash with severe burns and expensive medical bills. Stick with us at Rue & Ziffra to learn how they happen during airbag deployment.
Airbag burns happen when the bag rapidly inflates during a collision. Injuries are caused by a combination of extreme heat, friction, and chemical reactions that usually affect the face, chest, wrists, and forearms.
There are three types of airbag burns. Let us review them now, including:
The rapid chemical explosion that deploys the airbag generates intense heat. According to the National Institutes of Health, the surface can reach temperatures around 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Escaping hot gases or direct contact with the quickly expanding, hot nylon fabric can cause scalding or heat-related blistering.
Airbags literally explode out of your vehicle’s steering wheel or dashboard. This rapid deployment is essential for its main purpose: To protect you in a collision. But it reaches speeds of up to 200 mph in just milliseconds and when that rapidly moving fabric hits your skin, it can cause severe friction burns and abrasions that are similar to road rash.
Airbag manufacturers need a way to make airbags inflate instantly. Their answer is a chemical propellant like sodium azide or guanidinium nitrate. When your airbag deploys, it undergoes explosive decomposition, releasing byproducts like nitrogen gas and other caustic substances. When these alkaline powders and gases contact your skin or mingle with sweat, they can cause stinging, redness, and chemical irritation.
At Rue & Ziffra, we understand the aftermath of an accident is stressful, and knowing what to do immediately after getting burned can help protect you from its damaging effects. If an airbag burns you during a crash:
Even if your injuries seem minor at first, airbag burns can worsen over time and should always be taken seriously.
The severity of an airbag burn is not always obvious immediately following a collision. Minor skin irritations can rapidly worsen, potentially leading to permanent scarring or infections that require long-term medical care.
If you or a loved one is suffering from these deployment injuries, pinpointing the liable party is a critical next step in recovering your damages. Reach out to the local attorneys you can trust to guide you: Rue & Ziffra. Schedule your free consultation today and put our 50-plus years of experience to work for you.
Rue & Ziffra – Your Trusted Personal Injury Lawyers
N/a
