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Frontal airbags have saved 50,457 lives between 1987 and 2017. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that are enough people to fill a major league ballpark.

According to the NHTSA, frontal airbags generally deploy in “moderate to severe” frontal or near-frontal crashes, defined as crashes that are equivalent to hitting a solid, fixed barrier at 8 to 14 mph or higher. This is equivalent to striking a parked car of similar size at about 16 to 28 mph or higher.

Airbags are considered supplemental protection and are designed to work in combination with seatbelts. They reduce the chance that the upper body or head will strike a vehicle’s interior during a crash.

Many vehicles are equipped with both front and side airbags (SABs). Since 1998, frontal airbags have been standard equipment in all passenger cars, and in all SUVs, pickups, and vans since 1999.

Frontal airbag deployment happens when there is a moderate to severe crash. A signal is sent from the airbag system’s electronic control unit to an inflator within the airbag module. An igniter in the inflator starts a chemical reaction that produces a harmless gas, which inflates the airbag in less than 1/20^th of a second. SABs inflate more quickly because there is less space between the driver or passengers and the striking object, whether it is the interior of the vehicle, another vehicle, a tree, or a pole, says the NHTSA.

Many advanced frontal airbag systems and some advanced side airbag systems automatically shut off the passenger airbag when a vehicle detects a small-stature person/child or no occupant in a seat.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), “Side curtain airbags can be designed to deploy in a rollover crash. Sensors that measure a vehicle's sideways movement and tilting can detect if a rollover is about to occur, triggering deployment. These airbags typically inflate within the first 10-20 milliseconds of a rollover crash and can remain inflated longer than regular side curtain airbags (10 or more seconds) to protect during multiple-roll crashes. They typically cover the window opening and inflate more stiffly to prevent ejection of the occupant.”

When airbags do not deploy as they should, accident victims may suffer head injuries, neck injuries, spine injuries, facial fractures, permanent scarring, organ damage, or other injuries.

If airbags fail to perform as intended, the manufacturer, installer, and/or mechanic may be held responsible in a personal injury lawsuit.

A product liability case would need to establish:

• The airbag should have deployed, but did not.
• The airbag did not deploy because it was defective.
• The accident victim suffered injuries because the airbag did not deploy.
• The defective airbag was the direct cause of a victim’s injuries.

“Defective airbag accident victims may be entitled to compensation for such things as present, past, and future medical expenses including associated out-of-pocket expenses, transportation to and from a physician’s office, lost income, and pain and suffering. We represent people involved in numerous types of personal injury and wrongful death accidents throughout the state of Florida. All of our clients have unique personal injury cases. Our firm provides personal contact and communication along with aggressive representation. We are available 24/7 to assist you, and there are no costs or attorney fees until we receive a monetary recovery for you,” said Fort Myers Car Accident Attorney Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.

Fort Myers Car Accident Attorney Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one percent (1%) of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll-free at 1.888.477.4839, or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County at 239.793.7748.