Airbags are essential safety features. They deploy during a car accident to prevent you from being flung forward or hitting the steering wheel or dashboard. Although airbags are useful, they can also cause injuries themselves.
If you’ve been injured by an airbag in a car accident in Columbus, Ohio, one option you have is to file a personal injury claim to recover your losses. At Mani Ellis & Layne Accident & Injury Lawyers, our team of Columbus product liability lawyers can guide you through this process. With 71 years of combined experience and hundreds of millions of dollars recovered, we have a proven track record of success.
Contact our law office or call (614) 587-8423 for a free consultation.
How Mani Ellis & Layne Can Help After Airbag Injuries From A Car Accident in Columbus, OH
At Mani Ellis & Layne, our Columbus product liability attorneys can help you by:
- Investigating how and why the airbag failed
- Gathering key evidence, including recall notices and expert opinions
- Identifying all parties who may be responsible—like the manufacturer, dealership, or repair shop
- Calculating the full extent of your losses, including medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering
- Handling all communications and negotiations with insurance companies and manufacturers
- Taking your case to court if a fair settlement isn’t offered
Our team offers compassionate and comprehensive legal representation for your case.
Call us to schedule a complimentary consultation with one of our Columbus personal injury lawyers.
Types Of Airbag Injuries
In speeding accidents or as a result of a malfunction, airbag deployment can cause injuries. The following are the most common.
Broken Ribs
The airbag can deploy with enough force to cause one or more of your ribs to break. These fractures are painful and difficult to treat. Additionally, they can put you in danger of sustaining organ damage from a puncture or internal bleeding if the rib damages blood vessels.
Facial Injuries
If you hit your head against the airbag, it’s possible to break your nose or eye socket bones. If your skin rubs against the airbag, it can result in friction burns that may leave you with scarring. Any facial injury can carry a risk of scarring or disfigurement. It may be necessary to go through reconstructive surgery, which is costly and traumatic.
Soft Tissue Injuries
The airbag can also leave you with ligament, tendon, and muscle injuries. These can be very painful, resulting in stiffness and possibly even the development of chronic pain.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when an external force causes your brain to twist or shift in your skull. Hitting the airbag in a high-speed accident can cause this. Concussions are the mildest brain injuries, but even they can result in cognitive issues for a few days. More severe TBIs can result in permanent brain damage.
Neck And Spine Injuries
Your neck can whip forward during the collision and then be shoved back by the airbag. This movement can damage your cervical spine, putting you at risk of suffering a herniated disc or breaking a vertebra.
One of the most serious injuries you can suffer in a collision in which an airbag deploys with significant force is a spinal cord injury. Your spinal cord is part of your central nervous system, and it’s made up of nerves and nerve fibers. If anything damages them, you can suffer the loss of motor function or sensation.
Burns
Airbag deployment requires chemicals. If there is any type of malfunction and you’re exposed to those chemicals, you can suffer burns. These conditions can range in severity, but they may result in scarring and other visible, long-term damage.
Who Can Be Held Liable For Airbag Injuries?
If you’ve been hurt by an airbag, you might be wondering who’s actually responsible. Depending on the details, one or more of these parties could be held liable:
- Airbag manufacturer: if the airbag itself was designed or made with a defect
- Vehicle manufacturer: if the carmaker installed a faulty airbag or failed to address a known problem
- Parts supplier: if a component, like a sensor or inflator, was defective
- Car dealership: if the dealership sold you a car with a recalled or unsafe airbag
- Repair shop or mechanic: if they improperly installed or serviced the airbag system
Every situation is different, but you don’t have to figure it out alone. We can help you identify all responsible parties and hold them accountable for their actions.
Contact Our Columbus Product Liability Lawyers For A Free Consultation
If an airbag deployed during an accident and injured you, you should consult with a Columbus product liability attorney to understand your rights. You may be able to file a claim against the at-fault driver or the airbag manufacturer if the device malfunctioned.
At Mani Ellis & Layne, our legal team can fight for your rights. We’ll establish who the liable parties are and aggressively negotiate for fair compensation. Give us a call to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.
