Suing for Airbag Injuries After a Palm Beach Gardens Crash
After a car crash in Palm Beach Gardens, you may discover injuries caused by defective airbags. Although these safety features are designed to prevent injuries, they sometimes do more harm than good. If you were injured by an airbag in Florida, you may need to approach your injury lawsuit slightly differently compared to a normal car accident. Discuss the most appropriate course of action alongside a personal injury lawyer.
Common Airbag Injuries in Florida
Defective airbags can cause all kinds of injuries to motorists in Florida. Here are just a few examples:
- Facial Fractures: The force of an inflating airbag can easily fracture the bones in your face. These include your nose, chin, cheeks, and other facial structures. These injuries can be extremely painful and debilitating.
- Disfigurement: An airbag can cause disfiguring injuries. Your face may never be the same after a direct impact with an airbag. These injuries lead to psychological and physical issues over the years. They might also affect your ability to earn income.
- Chemical Burns: Contrary to their name, airbags are not filled with “air.” Instead, they contain toxic, harmful gases. These gases can explode with considerable force, helping airbags inflate faster. However, the gases can also cause serious injuries if they emit from the airbag. Many victims of airbags have suffered horrific chemical burns.
- Head Injuries: Head injuries are common for airbag victims. The force of an airbag can literally rock your brain around inside your skull. This can lead to a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Consequences include brain damage, cognitive decline, hemorrhages, depression, and loss of motor control.
- Neck Injuries: Even if your brain is unaffected, you may suffer serious neck injuries due to the impact of an airbag. This impact could jerk your neck back, causing issues like whiplash, spinal cord injuries, and more.
- Dental Injuries: A rapidly inflating airbag can knock your teeth out. These injuries may not be life-threatening, but they can be ruinously expensive to treat. Some patients have required extensive dental implants after airbag impacts.
Consider Airbag Recalls in Florida
If you’re serious about pursuing legal action after an airbag injury in Florida, work with your lawyers to determine whether your vehicle was subject to an airbag recall. If the manufacturer has recalled their airbags, it could be easier to sue them for product liability.
Consider a No-Fault Claim
You can also file a no-fault claim after an airbag injury. There is no need to establish negligence with this option, although you will not receive any compensation for non-economic damages. A no-fault claim can cover your medical expenses and your missed wages.
Contact a Qualified Auto Accident Lawyer in Palm Beach Gardens
Smith, Ball, Báez & Prather can help you pursue compensation for your airbag injuries in Palm Beach Gardens. There is no excuse for these defective products, especially when they were designed to protect you – not harm you. With our help, you can discuss potential strategies for compensation. Reach out to our Palm Beach Gardens car accident lawyers today to get the compensation you need to cover your damages.
Sources:
emj.bmj.com/content/19/6/490
iihs.org/topics/airbags
