Airbags are designed to spread the load of impact and provide a cushion to prevent occupants from the concentrated force of hitting a steering wheel, dashboard, or window. Like seatbelts, airbags are critical safety features that have saved numerous lives, but this often comes at a cost.
Front airbags reduce front-seat fatalities by 30% and reduce the risk of severe injuries, yet they often cause injuries, too.
If you have suffered airbag injuries in a car accident in Lawrenceville, GA, you may be entitled to compensation for your pain, medical bills, and other losses. An experienced Lawrenceville airbag injuries lawyer can help you hold the at-fault party accountable for the harm you have suffered.
Since 2012, Lawson Personal Injury Attorneys has represented accident victims in Lawrenceville, Georgia, and recovered millions in verdicts and settlements. Contact our law office today for a free case review with our Lawrenceville airbag injuries attorney at 678-446-3655.
How Lawson Personal Injury Attorneys Can Help You After a Car Accident in Lawrenceville, GA
If you have been hurt by an airbag, you deserve a Lawrenceville personal injury lawyer ready to fight for the compensation you deserve.
Here is how our Lawrenceville car accident attorney can help with your airbag injury case in Lawrenceville, Georgia:
- Provide legal guidance and support at every step
- Investigate your accident to gather evidence
- Identify parties who may be liable
- Work with experts as needed to prove your damages and causation
- Negotiate on your behalf with the insurance companies
- Take your case to trial when necessary
You do not need to go up against the insurance company and their team of lawyers on your own. Call Lawson Personal Injury Attorneys today to schedule a free consultation with a Lawrenceville airbag injuries attorney.
How Common Are Airbag Injuries In Lawrenceville, Georgia?
Airbag injuries and even fatalities used to be more common. Passenger car airbags were introduced in the 1970s and became more common in the 1980s. Front airbags have been required for all new cars and light trucks since 1999. Early generations of airbags deployed with more force and were more likely to cause serious injury.
Between 1990 and 2007, the NHTSA estimates there were 284 airbag-related deaths.
Almost all these deaths happened in vehicles made before 1998. Most people killed were passengers who were not wearing seatbelts or infants in rear-facing car seats too close to the airbag. 180 of the fatalities were children, and 108 of them were unrestrained or improperly restrained.
Today, defective airbags are usually responsible for airbag-related fatalities.
What Injuries Can Airbag Deployment Cause?
Airbag injuries can be very serious, especially when a defective airbag causes them or an occupant is not wearing a seatbelt.
Common injuries from an airbag include:
- Burns
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Chest injuries
- Eye injuries
- Fractures
- Lacerations and contusions
- Organ damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Injury or death to an unborn child
- Death
An airbag can save your life – but only if it deploys correctly. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you pursue the fair compensation you deserve for these injuries and your other damages.
What Causes Airbag Injuries in Lawrenceville, GA?
Airbags deploy in less than 1/20th of a second in a violent chemical reaction. The bag expands at a speed of 200 mph. This fast deployment is necessary to protect occupants in a crash, but it can also cause injury.
Some people are at a higher risk of suffering airbag injuries. This includes elderly people who are more prone to fractures and lacerations. The elderly and short drivers tend to sit very close to the steering wheel while driving which also increases the risk of injury. Young children can also be seriously hurt by an airbag in the front seat.
Other factors that increase the risk of airbag injuries include:
- Resting arms or legs against the airbag
- Using aftermarket seat covers or dash covers
- Sitting too close to the steering wheel
- Not wearing a seatbelt
- Defective airbags
You should always sit at least 10 inches away from the steering wheel. Newer airbags may take seat position into account to deploy with less force, but most vehicles are not equipped with this technology.
What Kinds of Damages Are Available to Airbag Injury Victims?
If a negligent driver or defective airbag caused your injuries, you may be entitled to compensation. Accident victims may recover damages that fall under two broad categories: economic or non-economic damages.
Economic damages include your financial losses such as:
- Medical bills and future medical expenses
- Property damage
- Lost wages
- Reduced or lost future income
- Reasonable out-of-pocket expenses
Non-economic damages refer to emotional, psychological, and physical damages without financial value. This may include pain, suffering, mental anguish, reduced quality of life, disfigurement, anxiety, and more.
What if I’m Being Blamed for My Airbag Injuries?
Georgia uses a modified comparative negligence rule in personal injury cases. Under this doctrine, you can still recover damages even if you share fault for your injuries. However, if you are 50% or more at fault, you are barred from recovering compensation.
Your recovery will also be reduced by your share of assigned fault. If you suffered $50,000 in damages but are found 30% liable for your accident, your recovery will be reduced by 30% to $35,000.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After An Airbag Injury In Georgia?
You have a limited amount of time to file a personal injury lawsuit against a negligent party. The Georgia statute of limitations is two years from the date of your accident for personal injury, wrongful death, and product liability claims. You will be barred from recovering any compensation if you miss this deadline.
Contact a Lawrenceville Airbag Injuries Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Have you suffered airbag injuries in a crash in Lawrenceville, GA, caused by someone else’s negligence? You may be entitled to compensation, and Lawson Personal Injury Attorneys is here to help.
Call our law office today at 678-446-3655 for a free initial consultation with a Lawrenceville airbag injuries lawyer to explore your options.