Obviously, airbags protect people from impact in a car crash and can save lives—but only if the airbags are in working order. A defective airbag could lead to burns, broken bones, or even life-threatening injuries. If an automaker or airbag manufacturer is found to have been negligent, then you may be entitled to compensation to help you meet your medical bills and other financial losses that were the results of your airbag injuries.

Of course, if an airbag fails to deploy at the moment you need it, you could sustain serious injuries from the impact. Then there is the fact that airbags can pack a 100-miler-per-hour punch to the face, so if anything is made, designed, or repaired incorrectly with your airbag system, things can get dangerous. It might deploy too late, or it may go off for no reason. The problems could lie with the crash sensor, which triggers the airbag if it detects a serious enough collision. The sensor deploys the airbag by flaring up a gas (such as nitrogen or argon) so that the bag inflates in 1/20th of a second before deflating nearly right away. This swift action can also send dust and chemicals into the air. Here are some injuries that can be caused by an airbag:

• Abrasions or burns
• Skin or eye irritation, even an asthma attack (due to the chemicals)
• Eye injuries

If the airbag deploys too late, it can cause more damage than it prevents, as the impact from the airbag can severely injure the neck or head, even causing fatal injuries. This is why the NHTSA recommends that drivers maintain at least a ten-inch distance from the steering wheel.

Can you file a personal injury lawsuit for airbag injuries?

Not always. You could only file an injury claim if someone was negligent, and this was the reason that the airbag was faulty. This could mean that the car maker created a defective airbag, or that the airbag manufacturer could be at fault. Or someone who either inspected, repaired, or installed the airbag could be found responsible.

If you think that you were injured by a faulty airbag, then you need to hold on to the airbag and any pertinent car parts, such as the crash sensor. Do not throw these away! You also need to prevent your vehicle's computer from getting cleaned out, and you need to keep the car from getting scrapped or taken by an insurer. You will need all the proof you can get in order to bolster your claim.

Learn if you have a case when you contact an experienced car accident attorney. You can find the advice and representation you need when you look through our directory today!