We Handle Claims Involving All Types of Airbag Injuries to Chest

The chest is one of the most exposed areas of the body during a car, truck or SUV accident. As a result, chest injuries are fairly common. This includes airbag injuries to chest. While airbags are supposed to prevent injuries, they unfortunately cause injuries in some cases—and, when this happens, injured drivers and passengers will often have claims for financial compensation.

We handle claims against airbag and vehicle manufacturers involving all types of airbag-related chest injuries. If you, your spouse or your child has been injured by an airbag, we encourage you to contact us for a free consultation about your legal rights. These injuries can leave individuals and families facing significant losses, and hiring a lawyer to file a successful claim can be critical for managing these losses long-term.

How Airbags (and Airbag Defects) Cause Chest Injuries

When airbags deploy, they do so with extreme force. Airbag inflators are designed to fill airbags almost instantaneously in order to protect drivers and passengers in the event of a collision. While this force lasts only milliseconds, it is enough to cause serious trauma, especially when a driver’s or passenger’s body lunges forward at the same time that the airbag deploys.

Issues with airbags can increase the risk of chest injuries. For example, airbags can deploy without a collision in some cases, and airbags can also explode violently instead of deploying properly. This is a particular concern with Takata airbags, which have been subject to a nationwide recall for several years, and is also a recent concern with millions of the ARC Automotive airbags exploding with significantly more force than designed. If airbags fail to deploy or deploy too late, this can lead to chest injuries as well.

Common Chest Injuries Caused By Airbags

Airbag injuries to the chest can take many different forms. Airbag deployments and explosions can cause multiple types of trauma, all of which can leave drivers and passengers facing long, difficult and expensive roads to recovery. Some of the most common types of chest injuries caused by airbags include:

Burns

Chest burns can result from friction caused by airbags and seatbelts as well as chemical exposure during airbag deployment. Airbags deploy at speeds in excess of 200 mph; and, while they may only inflate for 10 to 20 milliseconds, this is still plenty of time to cause a serious burn.

Chest Wall Injuries

The chest wall is the protective layer beneath the skin that protects the lungs, heart, esophagus and other organs in the chest. It consists of muscles and other tissue (as well as the rib cage and sternum), and it is highly prone to being injured due to the forces of an airbag’s deployment or explosion.

Hemothorax (Internal Bleeding in the Chest)

Hemothorax is a potentially serious medical condition characterized by internal bleeding between the chest wall and the lungs. This bleeding is often (though not always) caused by broken ribs, and it is frequently associated with other injuries (i.e., contusions and punctured lungs) as well.

Myocardial Contusions

Myocardial contusions are bruises on the heart. Bruises cause swelling, and with myocardial contusions, this swelling can place additional strain and pressure on the heart, potentially leading to serious (or even life-threatening) complications.

Pulmonary Contusions

Pulmonary contusions are bruises on the lungs. Similar to myocardial contusions, they present several risks, including the risk of death in the most serious cases. Various forms of treatment may be necessary, and prompt treatment can be essential for mitigating the risk of life-altering or life-threatening complications.

Pneumothorax (Collapsed Lung)

Pneumothorax is the medical term for a collapsed lung. This airbag-related chest injury occurs when air leaks into the space between the lung and the chest wall—applying pressure to the outside of the lung and causing it to collapse inward. Collapsed lungs require prompt treatment, which may involve both using a needle or tube to remove excess air behind the chest wall and reinflating the lung.

Rib Fractures

The force of a frontal airbag deployment or explosion can be enough to cause rib fractures for drivers and passengers. Rib fractures can be incredibly painful, and they can also present risks for a variety of extremely serious complications. When fractured ribs cause damage to the lungs or other internal organs, this can create a life-threatening situation requiring emergency surgery.

When Can You File a Claim for an Airbag-Related Chest Injury?

Airbags can cause chest injuries in a wide range of circumstances. In many cases, drivers’ and passengers’ chest injuries are due to airbag defects. When defects cause injuries, airbag and vehicle manufacturers can be held accountable, and injured drivers and passengers can—and should—hire a lawyer to help them seek just compensation. For example, drivers and passengers who suffer chest injuries in vehicle collisions will often have claims based on:

• Improper Airbag Deployment
• Failed Airbag Deployment
• Delayed Airbag Deployment
• Unnecessary Airbag Deployment
• Airbag Explosions

In short, if you have suffered an airbag-related chest injury under any circumstances, you should speak with a lawyer about your legal rights. It costs nothing to find out if you have a claim; and, if you do, you may be entitled to significant financial compensation. This includes compensation for your medical bills, loss of income, pain and suffering, and other losses. Our firm handles claims involving Takata airbags and airbags from all other manufacturers. We have helped numerous individuals and families file successful airbag injury claims, and we can use our experience to fight for the financial compensation you and your family deserve.

Airbag Injuries to Chest? Contact Us for a Free Consultation Today

Airbag injury lawyer, David P. Willis is a Board Certified Personal Injury Trial Lawyer since 1988 and has been representing injured clients against product makers and the automobile manufacturers for 40+ years. If you or a loved one has suffered an airbag injury to chest, we encourage you to contact us promptly for a free consultation. To schedule an appointment as soon as possible, call us or tell us how we can get in touch with you online today.