More lives have been saved by airbags than by any other automotive safety measure, with the exception of seatbelts. However, airbags have drawbacks, much like everything else in the automotive industry. Starting with the fact that airbags contain a certain quantity of explosives, the system is already quite volatile.
Additionally, even small manufacturing flaws and certain driving mistakes may cause fatal injury. Therefore, it is not surprising that anybody working on airbags must have particular training and certification to reduce the possibility of harming himself or others. So how deadly are airbags, and can they kill you?
In certain circumstances, an airbag is exceedingly harmful and may kill you. For instance, there have been multiple instances when defective airbags deployed and discharged shrapnel, instantaneously killing the unlucky motorist. When seatbelts are not buckled, airbags should not deploy, but catastrophic injuries may result if they do.
Can You Kill an Airbag in an Accident?
An airbag in a vehicle collision may do more harm than good, even killing you. It occurs most often as a result of seatbelt violations. The reason is that airbags are only useful and safe up to a certain point or until they have completely inflated.
The airbag will strike you in the head with the full power of the explosive charge if your head passes the airbag inflation zone before it should. And sadly, in most instances, it results in death.
Wearing a seatbelt is thus essential for your safety, even if traveling at a speed of less than 20 mph. All vehicles with airbags include seatbelts intended to keep you out of the airbag inflation zone. Most of these seatbelts also have pre-tensioners, which also deploy with the airbag.
In the event of an accident, the seatbelt pre-tensioner tightens the belt and secures you to the seat. In this manner, your body is prevented from moving forward, and when the airbag is completely inflated, your head only reaches its limit.
Airbag Factory Defects
Happily, airbag manufacturer flaws are exceedingly uncommon, but they do occur. The major worry with manufacturer flaws right now is that the airbag does not deploy, which is risky in and of itself but is still preferable to shrapnel flying.
You know, Takata produced faulty airbags only a few years ago that, according to NHTSA, resulted in 24 verified fatalities and over 400 injuries by shooting metal shrapnel directly at the driver’s skull.
More alarming is that several of those fatalities followed minor parking lot mishaps. In addition, Takata provides airbags to several other significant automakers, including Volkswagen, Mitsubishi, Toyota, Fiat, and Chrysler.
That is not to imply that you should not be worried about this since this is not the first time an airbag has killed someone after detonating. The victims or the relatives of the victims have received compensation, and all the cars with these airbags have been recalled and rectified. But, the key point is that these flaws and issues may recur, and individuals might perish.
Can You Kill From an Airbag During Car Maintenance?
Working near an airbag is not quite as risky as handling explosives, but it may still result in similar injuries. For instance, you will undoubtedly get chemical burns and a serious concussion if the airbag deploys close to your head. Additionally, eye, cheek, and hands injuries are often sustained. Finally, there is always a chance of dying.
Deactivate the airbag first if you need to work close to one another, such as while removing the steering wheel, the plastic trim surrounding the steering column, or even the airbag itself. Remember that certain sensors activate the airbag; under some circumstances, any wire break, damage, or even dampness might cause it to deploy.
All modern vehicles now include an interior airbag deactivation switch, and the owner’s handbook will tell you exactly where it is. Moreover, only the car key may be used to activate the switch. After that, keep the airbag at arm’s length when carrying it and store it securely.
While all this may seem excessive, are you willing to take a chance, particularly with older vehicles? Do not forget to turn on the airbag when everything has been put back together.
Deaths Linked to Defective Airbags
How many individuals have died away or been injured while working on airbags is still unknown. We also cannot estimate the number of fatalities caused by side airbags, yet 284 frontal airbag-related deaths occurred between 1990 and 2007 due to these devices, according to the NHTSA. Of course, that figure only relates to the United States, so we can only speculate how many people died globally.
While 284 fatalities in 17 years is not a lot, many more individuals perished due to tire, suspension, braking, and engine problems. Again, as long as you wear a seatbelt and avoid handling an airbag without a professional’s assistance, there is no cause to be afraid of them. This is a list of every vehicle that received one of the tainted Takata airbags in case you think your car may be on that list.
Potential Airbag Injuries
While there are not many airbag-related fatalities, on a relative basis, there are many more injuries of varied seriousness. For instance, back in the Takata accident, there were 24 fatalities but over 400 injuries.
The precise number of airbag injuries is still unknown, but due to rosenfeldinjurylawyers.com, we can identify the most frequent injuries.
- Typical Airbag Injuries
- Asthma attack
- Lung irritation
- Chest injury
- Concussion
- Chemical burns
- Several fractures
- lung injury
- heart injury
- Irreversible eye injuries
- Tinnitus or a loss of hearing
- Permanent scars
- Skin removal (De-Gloving)
- Various cuts
- Traumatic encephalitis
- Blunt trauma
If Airbags Can Deploy Without a Collision
No, airbags will not normally deploy without a collision. Yet, faulty airbags might deploy without an accident or a clear reason. Also, if an unskilled individual works on the airbag or the airbag sensors, he might mistakenly activate it, costing the vehicle considerable damage and perhaps resulting in catastrophic injury.
Can You Be Knocked Unconscious by an Airbag?
An airbag may cause you to pass out. When your head is involved in a frontal collision, the airbag absorbs all the force your head is carrying. However, if the momentum is too considerable, you might be knocked unconscious and suffer from brain damage, concussions, or even brain swelling. Yet if the driver is buckled up and the seat and steering wheel are positioned correctly for his height, it nearly never occurs.
Are airbags more harmful than beneficial?
Airbags do not do more damage than good, no. Airbags may cause serious injuries and even death, yet they have significantly saved more lives than they claimed. According to the NHTSA airbag safety investigation findings, 284 lives were lost due to airbags between 1990 and 2007, while more than 50,000 were saved.
What Speed Do Airbags Become Ineffective?
Airbag sensors are often designed to only trigger at speeds greater than 15 mph, rendering them ineffective and only capable of causing costly damage at slower rates. However, at speeds exceeding 25 mph, the airbag is ineffective or harmful if the driver or passenger is not using a seatbelt.
If you hit a pedestrian, do the airbags deploy?
Only when the front bumper’s impact sensors are triggered do airbags inflate. In other words, the airbags will deploy if you strike a pedestrian hard enough. But, because a person weighs less than a vehicle, you need to move much more quickly for the airbags to deploy when you collide.
If the airbags deploy, will your car be destroyed?
No, your automobile will not be destroyed if the airbags go off. Yet, airbags may result in a vehicle being written off since they are costly and will significantly increase the repair cost. For instance, replacing all the frontal airbags in a contemporary automobile ranges from $700 to $1,000 without factoring in the cost of airbag sensors and crumple zones.
Do Burns from Airbags Leave Scars?
Airbag burns often result in scarring, tragically most frequently on the hands and face. These scars are difficult to heal and may cost a lot of money. But, it will not be difficult for you to locate a personal injury attorney who assists you in airbag-related injuries.
How Does Being Strike by an Airbag Feel?
Several individuals who an airbag has struck have varying experiences with how it feels. One individual said it was like having a huge hand smack you in the face and chest.
Some compare the sensation to being struck by someone very powerful. On the other side, individuals have also reported being smacked by a plush animal or enveloped in a balloon, which is less traumatic than the previous two cases.
Conclusion
In the end, the technical answer is “yes,” but the likelihood of it occurring is under 0.5%, at least based on my calculations utilizing the findings of the NHTSA airbag safety studies. Also, the likelihood is much reduced if you use a seatbelt and modify the steering wheel and seat to fit your height.
But you may discover a list of all the cars eligible for an airbag recall to help you avoid that possibility. While you can not forecast when an airbag will malfunction, it does not happen frequently.
Lastly, avoid auto maintenance on your vehicle that requires taking out or fiddling with the airbags since doing so might result in severe injury. Instead, either hire an expert or locate an airbag deactivation switch.