Since their widespread implementation in the automotive industry, airbags have saved tens of thousands of lives and prevented countless catastrophic injuries. Modern passenger vehicles are equipped with sophisticated Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS) that include front, side-curtain, and sometimes even knee airbags. However, while these devices are meticulously designed to protect occupants from the blunt force trauma of striking a steering wheel, dashboard, or window, the sheer physical forces required for an airbag to function properly introduce their own unique set of injury risks. In many of these cases, a car accident lawyer can help evaluate whether additional liability may be involved due to defects or improper deployment. Our friends at Mitchell & Danoff Law Firm, Inc discuss how understanding how these systems operate can help individuals mitigate the chances of secondary injuries during a severe collision.
The Intense Physics of Airbag Deployment
To be effective, an airbag must detect a collision and fully inflate before the vehicle’s occupants have the time to move forward. This incredible feat of engineering is achieved through a controlled chemical reaction—typically involving sodium azide or similar propellants—which rapidly produces nitrogen gas. This expanding gas fills the tightly packed nylon bag, causing it to burst from its steering column or dashboard compartment at speeds reaching up to 200 miles per hour.
The entire deployment process takes roughly one-twentieth of a second. Because the deployment is essentially a controlled, localized explosion, any body part that is in the direct expansion path of the deploying airbag is subjected to massive, sudden kinetic force.
Common Airbag-Related Injuries
When occupants are struck by an airbag deploying at maximum velocity, several specific types of physical trauma frequently occur, even in low-speed collisions where the vehicle itself sustains minimal damage:
- Abrasions and Thermal Burns: As the rough nylon fabric of the airbag expands outward and rubs against the skin, it can cause severe friction burns, commonly referred to within the medical community as “airbag slap.” These abrasions typically affect the face, neck, and arms. Additionally, the high-temperature chemical gases used to inflate the bag can sometimes vent into the cabin, causing minor thermal burns or temporary respiratory irritation if inhaled by the vehicle occupants.
- Facial and Ocular Trauma: Because front airbags are designed specifically to catch the head and prevent it from striking the dashboard, the human face absorbs a significant amount of the initial impact. This sudden force can result in broken noses, fractured orbital bones, and severe bruising. If an occupant is wearing glasses or sunglasses, the kinetic force of the airbag can shatter the lenses or drive the hard plastic and metal frames into the face, posing a serious and immediate risk to the eyes.
- Chest and Upper Extremity Injuries: Drivers who sit too close to the steering wheel, or passengers who improperly rest their feet on the dashboard during transit, are highly susceptible to severe orthopedic injuries. The deploying airbag can easily fracture ribs, snap wrists, or cause severe hyperextension injuries to the arms and legs if they are caught in the deployment zone.
Mitigating the Risks Through Proper Positioning
Automotive safety engineers constantly stress that airbags are supplemental restraints, meaning they are designed explicitly to work in tandem with traditional seatbelts. When occupants fail to wear seatbelts, their bodies are thrown violently forward during the initial heavy braking phase of a crash, placing them directly against the airbag compartment right as the chemical explosion occurs. This improper positioning often leads to fatal internal injuries.
To minimize the risk of airbag-induced trauma, national safety organizations recommend that drivers adjust their seats so that their breastbone is at least ten inches away from the center of the steering wheel. Furthermore, steering wheels should be tilted downward toward the chest rather than aimed directly at the head or neck. Finally, because the explosive force of a passenger-side airbag is exceptionally dangerous to smaller bodies, children under the age of thirteen should always ride properly restrained in the rear seats of the vehicle. By strictly adhering to these spacing and restraint guidelines, individuals can ensure that airbags function as the life-saving tools they were engineered to be, rather than sources of preventable additional trauma.