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Frontal airbags have saved tens of thousands of lives since they became mandatory in all new cars in 1998. When you get into a frontal collision, the airbag deploys to catch you and slow your forward motion so you do not strike the steering wheel or dashboard at full speed.
But frontal airbags also have their dangers. In some car accidents, airbags can injure or even kill front-seat occupants.
After a crash in Portland, OR, our Oregon airbag injury lawyer at Tillmann Law Personal Injury Lawyers can review the circumstances and evaluate any injury or wrongful death claims that might result from it. Contact our law firm at (503) 773-3333 to schedule a free initial consultation if you need legal assistance.
How an Oregon Car Accident Attorney Can Help You Pursue Compensation for Airbag Injuries
Tillmann Law Personal Injury Lawyers was established to help accident victims fight for injury compensation. Our Portland car accident attorney has over 17 years of experience representing injured clients against at-fault drivers and their insurers.
If you get injured in a car crash in Portland, Oregon, our firm can provide:
- A free case evaluation so you can make informed decisions about your claim
- A law firm that puts your interests first to pursue the best possible outcome
- A lawyer recognized locally and nationally for recovering millions of dollars for clients
An airbag injury may require expensive medical care and force you to temporarily or permanently cease working. Contact a Portland car accident attorney for a free consultation to discuss your collision and the compensation you can seek for your injuries.
How Many Oregon Crashes Involve Airbag Deployment?
Tillmann Law Personal Injury Lawyers was established to help accident victims fight for injury compensation. Our Portland car accident attorney has over 17 years of experience representing injured clients against at-fault drivers and their insurers.
If you get injured in a car crash in Portland, Oregon, our firm can provide:
- A free case evaluation so you can make informed decisions about your claim
- A law firm that puts your interests first to pursue the best possible outcome
- Airbag injury lawyers recognized locally and nationally for recovering millions of dollars for clients
An airbag injury may require expensive medical care and force you to temporarily or permanently cease working. Contact a Portland car accident attorney for a free consultation to discuss your collision and the compensation you can seek for your injuries.
Product Liability for Defective Airbags
In addition to representing clients injured in motor vehicle accidents, our experienced airbag injury lawyers understand the complexities involved in cases related to defective airbags and airbag malfunctions.
We work diligently to identify liable parties, which may include not only the at-fault driver but also airbag manufacturers and vehicle manufacturers responsible for faulty airbag systems. Our attorneys are skilled in navigating product liability claims and can help you prove negligence or defect caused by a faulty airbag or airbag module.
Injury Severity and Compensation
We recognize that injuries caused by airbag deployment can range from minor injuries such as bruises and abrasions to more serious injuries including chest injuries, spinal injuries, broken bones, internal bleeding, and even catastrophic injuries that require long term medical treatment.
Our legal team is committed to securing fair settlements or court awards that cover medical expenses, hospital bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages resulting from your injury.
Understanding that many personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, we ensure you have access to high-quality legal representation without upfront costs. This approach allows accident victims to focus on their recovery while we handle settlement negotiations and insurance claims with insurance companies and responsible parties.
Preserving Evidence and Deadlines
Early legal intervention can make all the difference in preserving evidence such as accident reports and securing the vehicle involved before it is repaired or altered. Our attorneys provide guidance on the timely manner in which claims should be filed, including adherence to Oregon’s statute of limitations for personal injury cases.
With over a decade of experience representing victims in the Pacific Northwest, our firm is dedicated to standing up for your rights and helping you recover compensation that truly reflects the impact of your injuries. Whether you are dealing with minor injuries or severe injuries caused by an airbag deployment, we are here to provide the legal support you need to navigate the complex claims process and obtain the justice you deserve.
How Many Oregon Crashes Involve Airbag Deployment?
Airbags have three parts. A sensor sits at the front of your vehicle to detect the rapid deceleration characteristic of frontal impacts. The sensor triggers an inflator that uses a chemical reaction to rapidly produce a large volume of gas. The gas inflates a vented airbag that erupts from its case in the dashboard or steering wheel.
The goal of the airbag is not to bounce you away. Instead, the vents allow the airbag to catch you and then deflate rapidly to slow you down.
Because of the location and orientation of the sensor, frontal airbags usually deploy only when the front of your vehicle strikes something.
Airbags might deploy in the following accident examples:
- Head-on or front-end collisions might trigger the airbag in both vehicles
- Rear-end collisions might cause airbag deployment in the rear vehicle
- Side-impact or T-bone collisions might trigger deployment in the impacting vehicle
Estimating Airbag Deployment in Crashes
According to the 2021 Oregon Traffic Crash Summary report, Portland had 5,800 multi-vehicle crashes that year.
These crashes included:
- 2,603 rear-end collisions
- 75 head-on collisions
- 2,112 side-impact collisions
The Oregon Traffic Crash Summary does not state how many crashes involved an airbag deployment. But you can estimate that about 3,696 vehicles had their airbags deployed during these crashes.
Airbag Injuries in Oregon Car Accidents
Airbags deploy at approximately 200 miles per hour. The force of the airbag bursting from its casing causes injuries for three reasons:
Impact With the Occupant
Despite the inflation force, fatal airbag injuries occur very rarely. Between 1990 and 2008, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) identified only 290 deaths caused by airbags. Many of these airbag fatalities happened before 2008, when the NHTSA changed its regulations to make airbag inflators less powerful and require deactivation switches.
Non-fatal airbag injuries are much more common.
When your face strikes the airbag, you can suffer injuries such as:
- Bruises
- Broken nose
- Facial fractures
Most of these injuries heal without complications. But some facial injuries can produce significant scarring and disfigurement.
Small Occupants
Smaller occupants have three main risks when riding in the front seat of a vehicle with airbags. First, people under about four feet six inches tall need to sit close to the steering wheel to reach the pedals. In this position, they can take the full force of the inflating airbag to their chest in a crash.
Second, an airbag can strike short occupants in the head, snapping their necks as their head whips back. A broken neck can cause death or paralysis when broken vertebrae sever the spinal cord.
Third, deploying airbags can strike and flip rear-facing car seats. The child might get ejected or suffer whiplash injuries in the crash.
Defective Airbags
A large recall involving almost all major car manufacturers has been running since 2014. A company called Takata supplied manufacturers with airbags that used chemicals that could break down in hot, humid weather. As a result, the airbag could deploy unexpectedly.
Worse yet, the force of the airbag deployment could shatter the inflator. Metal shrapnel from the explosion could lacerate the vehicle occupants. These defects killed 19 and injured over 400 in the U.S. alone.
This widespread recall affected vehicles from 19 different automakers, covering tens of millions of cars worldwide. Despite extensive efforts to replace faulty airbags, as of the end of 2022, approximately 11 million defective airbags remained unrepaired, posing ongoing risks to vehicle occupants.
The Takata airbag recall is one of the largest and most complex safety recalls in automotive history, highlighting the serious consequences of airbag defects. Injuries caused by defective airbags can range from minor bruises and abrasions to severe chest injuries, spinal injuries, broken bones, internal bleeding, chemical exposure, permanent disability, and even wrongful death.
Filing a Defective Airbag Claim
If you have been injured due to a defective airbag, it is crucial to seek immediate medical attention and consult with experienced airbag injury lawyers who specialize in product liability claims. These attorneys can help you document your injuries, gather evidence, and pursue compensation from liable parties, including vehicle manufacturers and airbag suppliers.
Understanding your rights and acting promptly can make all the difference in securing a successful claim and obtaining fair compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages related to your airbag injury.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Oregon Airbag Injury Attorney To Learn More
The liability for airbag injuries can fall on the at-fault driver who caused the crash that resulted in airbag deployment. Liability can also fall on manufacturers of defective airbags. Contact Tillmann Law Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation to discuss your airbag injuries and who might bear liability for your losses.
Investigating an Airbag Injury Claim
In many cases, determining liability in airbag injury claims involves a thorough investigation of the accident circumstances, vehicle condition, and the airbag system itself.
Our experienced attorneys work closely with experts in accident reconstruction and product liability to build a strong case on your behalf. Our airbag injury lawyers understand the complexities involved in proving negligence or defects caused by faulty airbags or airbag modules.
If you or a loved one has suffered injuries due to an airbag deployment, it is important to act promptly. Our legal team can help you gather necessary documentation, including medical records, accident reports, and evidence of defective products. We also assist in communicating with insurance companies and responsible parties to ensure your rights are protected.
Damages for Airbag Injuries
Our airbag injury lawyers are committed to helping you seek compensation for all damages related to your injury, including medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and long-term medical treatment if necessary. Our airbag injury lawyers operates on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no upfront legal fees and only pay if we recover compensation for you.
Don’t navigate the legal process alone. Schedule your free consultation today to learn more about your options and how our Oregon airbag injury attorneys can support you in pursuing a successful personal injury claim.
Car Accidents We Cover
