Car Accident Airbag Injuries

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Although car airbags can protect vehicle occupants from severe injuries, they can also cause injuries due to their deployment. Improper design or manufacturing defects can cause airbags to deploy more violently than necessary, unnecessarily deploy in minor collisions, or accidentally deploy even when a vehicle has not been in a collision.

If you’ve been injured by improper airbag deployment or a defective airbag, you may have a claim for compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and other losses. Let an airbag injury lawyer from Finz & Finz, P.C., help you explore your options.

For three generations, our family-run law firm has worked tirelessly to advocate for the rights and interests of injured victims across New York. Our nationally recognized attorneys have compiled a proven track record of success, recovering over $1 billion for our clients. Our team of accomplished litigators includes four former judges with the insight and skill to pursue the financial relief and justice you deserve. We partner with industry-leading experts to collaborate on complex engineering and medical issues. Our lawyers enjoy some of the highest peer-review ratings for ethics and legal success, including recognition from Super Lawyers and Martindale-Hubbell.

After suffering injuries from an improper airbag deployment or faulty airbags, get the legal help you need to pursue compensation from those responsible for your losses. Contact Finz & Finz, P.C., today for a free initial case evaluation to discuss your legal options with a New York City car accident lawyer.

Airbag Injury Symptoms

Symptoms of an airbag injury can vary depending on the injuries a vehicle occupant suffers. After a severe car crash or an accidental deployment of your vehicle’s airbag, you should watch out for signs of injuries that the airbag may have caused.

Common examples of airbag injury symptoms include:

  • Chest injuries – Difficulty breathing, coughing up blood, severe pain when inhaling, and irregular heartbeat
  • Eye injuries – Irritation, redness, and vision changes and loss
  • Facial injuries – Redness, swelling, lacerations, abrasions, and blistering from burns
  • Head injuries – Hearing loss, ringing in the ears, and jaw pain
  • Neck injuries and whiplash – Stiffness, pain, and limited range of motion
  • Soft tissue injuries (including dislocations, ligament sprains and tears, and muscle and tendon strains and tears) – Bruising, tenderness, stiffness, lost range of motion, swelling, joint instability, irregular appearance and positioning of extremities, and severe pain with movement
  • Traumatic brain injuries – Dizziness, confusion, headaches, persistent nausea and vomiting, vision and hearing changes, a bad taste in the mouth, changes to the ability to smell, difficulty sleeping, and memory and concentration problems

Because airbag-related injuries can have delayed symptoms, you should seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of these symptoms in the days following a car accident or airbag deployment.

Common Types of Airbag Injuries

Defective airbags can cause various types of serious injuries. Examples of some of the most common airbag injuries include:

  • Airbag injuries to arms – Vehicle occupants may suffer soft tissue injuries or broken bones in the arms. A steering wheel airbag can injure a driver’s arms as they hold the steering wheel, while other vehicle occupants may suffer arm injuries from frontal airbags if they instinctively throw their arms out in front of them.
  • Airbag injuries to the chest – Getting hit in the chest by an airbag can also cause trauma to the lungs or heart or may dislocate or break ribs.
  • Airbag injuries to the face – The force of a deploying frontal airbag can cause lacerations and burns to the face or damage the jaw or nose, especially when a person’s body lurches forward in an auto collision.
  • Airbag injuries to legs – Some vehicles may have airbags designed to protect the legs from striking the inside of the cabin or getting crushed in an accident. Legs can suffer injuries such as soft-tissue injuries and broken bones.
  • Head injuries from airbag deployment – The impact of an airbag can also cause various head injuries, including airbag eye injuries, hearing damage, whiplash, and traumatic brain injuries.

Who Is Liable for an Airbag Injury?

When an airbag improperly deploys, whether by deploying with excessive force, deploying unnecessarily in a minor fender-bender, or accidentally deploying outside of a collision, you might have a product liability claim against the airbag manufacturer and the vehicle’s manufacturer. Depending on the circumstances, you might also have a claim against an auto shop that inspected, repaired, or replaced the vehicle’s airbags.

Statute of Limitations on New York Airbag Injury Cases

Under New York’s statute of limitations, plaintiffs typically have three years to file a lawsuit against at-fault parties after getting injured by an airbag. Thus, you should contact an airbag injury lawyer from Finz & Finz, P.C., as soon as possible after suffering airbag injuries. If you file a lawsuit after the deadline, you will likely lose the opportunity to seek compensation for your injuries in civil court. Our lawyers can ensure that the necessary paperwork is filed correctly and promptly.

Compensation Available for Airbag Deployment Injuries in New York

If you’ve suffered airbag deployment injuries, you may have the right to recover compensation for ongoing and future losses you incur due to your injuries. Faulty airbag injury settlements can provide financial recovery for:

  • Costs of medical treatment and rehabilitation, including emergency care, hospitalization, surgeries, pain medications, physical therapy, and occupational therapy
  • Costs of long-term care and assistance you need to cope with prolonged or permanent disabilities caused by your injuries
  • Emotional trauma and distress
  • Loss of enjoyment and quality of life due to disabilities, visible scarring, and disfigurement
  • Loss of future earning capacity and employment benefits if you become permanently disabled from working
  • Lost income from missed work or reduced earnings in a lower-paying part-time or modified duty position within your medical restrictions
  • Physical pain and anguish from your injuries and subsequent treatment

Talk to an Experienced New York City Airbag Injury Lawyer Today

If a violent or improper airbag deployment has hurt you, you may have options for pursuing financial recovery. Contact the New York City accident lawyer at Finz & Finz, P.C., today for a free, no-obligation consultation with an experienced airbag injury lawyer in New York. We want to help you seek compensation for your medical bills, lost income, pain, suffering, and other losses.