El Paso Airbag Injury Lawyer

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According to the U.S. government, frontal airbags have saved over 50,000 lives since they became required equipment about 30 years ago. In a car accident, the airbag slows your forward motion, preventing you from striking the steering wheel or dashboard with enough force to suffer a head or neck injury.

The forceful deployment of an airbag can occasionally injure a crash victim. In rare cases, these injuries are fatal. An El Paso airbag injury lawyer from Mission Personal Injury Lawyers can investigate your accident and identify the parties liable for the resulting losses.

Contact our El Paso, TX, law firm at (915) 591-1000 to schedule a free initial consultation.

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How Mission Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help You With an Airbag Injury Claim in El Paso, TX

Since 2010, Mission Personal Injury Lawyers has fought for clients in El Paso, Texas, who have suffered injuries due to someone else’s actions. Our El Paso car accident lawyers have over 43 years of combined legal experience standing up to insurers and at-fault drivers. Over that time, we have successfully recovered tens of millions of dollars while earning a 99% success rate.

If you need representation in your personal injury case, our attorneys provide the following services:

A free case review to analyze your situation and explain your legal options
A thorough investigation to gather records and other evidence supporting your claim
Preparation of your insurance claim and negotiations with the insurer to settle it
Litigation against an insurer that refuses a fair settlement

A car accident can traumatize your body and mind. Contact our El Paso personal injury lawyers to learn how we will help you recover financial compensation for the losses caused by your accident.

Are Airbag Injuries Common?

Airbag fatalities are rare. Between 1990 and 2008, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) identified 290 deaths from airbag deployments. Based on this statistic, you can calculate that roughly 15 people suffered airbag injuries each year during the study.

However, this calculation would miss some important context. Almost 90% of these deaths happened in cars manufactured before 1998. That year, the NHTSA passed a regulation depowering airbags. As a result, the force of a deploying airbag dropped, resulting in fewer fatalities.

Additionally, over 90% of those killed by airbags were children or infants. In 2007, the NHTSA’s regulations began requiring sensors to automatically disable airbags for lightweight passengers. These sensors reduce the risk of fatal injuries to children and small adults. Thus, fatal airbag injuries rarely happen in vehicles made after 2007.

Unfortunately, non-fatal airbag injuries are inevitable, given the way airbags work. Airbags deploy in a fraction of a second when sensors detect a frontal collision. The force of the airbag can injure front-seat occupants.

The Role of an Airbag Injury Lawyer in El Paso

If you suffer an airbag injury, you may have a legal claim. An airbag injury lawyer will review your accident and how your injuries occurred. Based on this analysis, the attorney can advise you about who may be liable for your damages.

If your injury resulted from another person’s negligence or a product defect, you can pursue compensation for the losses you experienced. Injured vehicle occupants can pursue claims in the following scenarios:

The Other Driver Negligently Caused the Crash

Texas uses a fault-based insurance system. Every car owner buys an insurance policy with liability coverage. If a driver of the insured car negligently strikes another road user, the accident victim can pursue a legal claim against the at-fault driver and their insurer.

This claim includes all the injuries suffered by the victim, including injuries caused by the seat belt and airbag. The at-fault driver is liable for all foreseeable injuries caused by their negligence. A reasonable person could foresee injuries from striking an airbag, including bruises, broken facial bones, and a concussion.

For example, suppose that a driver goes the wrong way down the freeway. You see the oncoming vehicle and swerve to avoid a head-on collision. You strike a concrete barrier, and your airbag deploys. You probably have a claim against the wrong-way driver.

The Driver’s Negligence Injured a Passenger

You may have a claim if you were a passenger and the driver negligently caused a crash. For example, suppose that you are riding with a driver who is tailgating and speeding. If they cause a rear-end collision, you will get thrown forward into your seat belt and airbag. In this case, you may have a claim against the careless driver you rode with.

The Car Had a Defective Airbag

The U.S. recently conducted the largest safety recall in history due to defective airbag modules installed in tens of millions of vehicles. Takata airbags had defective inflators that could deploy unexpectedly and with great force. The resulting explosion could shower the occupants with shrapnel.

Manufacturers are strictly liable for injuries caused by defective products. If your airbag deployed or failed to deploy due to a product defect, you may have a claim against the airbag’s manufacturer.

Schedule a Free Consultation With Our El Paso Airbag Injury Attorneys

Airbag injuries can cause pain and disabilities. Contact Mission Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation to discuss your car accident and the compensation we can pursue for the injuries you suffered.