Automobile manufacturers have added many safety measures to reduce injury severity in car accidents. Airbags, for example, saved over 50,000 lives between 1987 and 2017. However, airbags can also cause injuries during a car crash in Chicago, IL.
Some airbag injuries happen when airbags malfunction. Others simply result when a human body impacts the airbag. In either case, Attorneys of Chicago Personal Injury Lawyers can help you pursue compensation for your airbag injuries.
Reach out to our Chicago car accident lawyers at (872) 324-4375 to discuss your crash and how it has impacted your life. We offer a free case review.
How Our Chicago Car Accident Attorneys Can Help You With an Airbag Injury Claim
The lawyers at Attorneys of Chicago Personal Injury Lawyers have three decades of combined experience helping accident victims pursue compensation from those responsible. We’ve recovered tens of millions of dollars for our clients in Chicago, Illinois, and across the state.
If someone injured you due to their negligent or intentional actions, we can provide you with the following legal services:
- Reviewing your situation and advising you of your legal options
- Filing an insurance claim, including supporting documents and evidence
- Negotiating with the insurer or other involved parties
- Filing a lawsuit if the opposing side refuses to settle the case
An airbag injury can cause painful or even fatal injuries. Contact our law office for a free consultation with a Chicago personal injury attorney to discuss your injuries and the compensation we can pursue for them.
What Injuries Can Airbags Cause in Car Accidents?
Airbags can cause minor injuries simply due to the way they work. When a sensor detects a frontal collision, it triggers a chemical reaction in an inflator. The chemicals generate a large volume of gas to fill the airbag. All these events occur in less than 0.05 seconds.
The airbag catches your head and upper chest and deflates to slow your motion. However, when you strike the airbag, you can suffer bruises or even facial fractures.
In some cases, you may suffer more serious injuries. The deployment force can strain or sprain the soft tissues of the fingers or hands gripping the steering wheel. The abrupt impact of your head on the airbag can jolt your brain and cause a concussion.
Importantly, the person responsible for causing your crash will be liable for all injuries, including injuries caused by your safety equipment.
How Do Airbags Cause Injuries in Chicago Car Accidents?
Airbags generally cause injuries in three ways.
Airbag Impact
You can suffer an injury in any car accident in which the airbag deploys because they are designed to impact your face and upper chest to slow your forward motion. During this impact, you can suffer fractures or soft tissue injuries.
Airbag Inflation
Short adults and children tend to sit closer to the airbag housings than average-sized adults. However, airbags require space to deploy. When you sit too close to the dashboard or steering wheel, the airbag can strike you during inflation and knock your head back. The resulting neck injury can be fatal.
Airbag Malfunction
Airbag equipment can malfunction and injure you. For example, Takata sold tens of millions of defective airbag inflators to almost every major auto company. These defective inflators caused 27 deaths and over 400 injuries in the U.S. when they exploded and sprayed shrapnel toward vehicle occupants.
What Determines the Value of an Airbag Injury Case in Chicago?
Your injuries largely determine the value of your car accident claim. Severe injuries, particularly those that cause long-term disabilities, will typically result in greater financial costs and quality-of-life losses. As a result, they will justify greater compensation.
However, several other factors must be considered, including any shared fault, the parties and insurance coverage involved, and more. Our Chicago car accident attorneys can evaluate your losses to put an accurate dollar figure on your claim.
What Compensation Can Chicago Airbag Injury Victims Recover?
Crash victims can pursue compensation for their economic and non-economic losses. Economic damages include medical bills, lost wages, out-of-pocket expenses, and other financial costs. Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, disability, loss of companionship, and other intangible losses.
How Much Will It Cost To Hire a Car Accident Lawyer in Chicago?
Car accident lawyers in Illinois typically charge a contingency fee. This fee is calculated as a percentage of the compensation the lawyer recovers in a settlement or trial award. If they do not successfully resolve your case, you will not owe them attorney’s fees for their services.
Does Illinois Allow Me To Receive Car Accident Compensation If I Am Partially At Fault?
Illinois allows accident victims to recover compensation if they are partially at fault for their injuries – but only if they are 50% or less to blame. There’s a 51% bar to financial recovery due to the state’s modified comparative negligence law.
For example, airbags are less effective when occupants do not wear seat belts. If you suffered an airbag injury while riding without a seat belt, you might get a percentage of the blame for your injuries and lose a portion of your compensation.
How Much Time Do I Have To File a Car Accident Lawsuit in Illinois?
Illinois has a two-year statute of limitations for filing most personal injury lawsuits. However, there could be exceptions to this general time limit. Hiring a lawyer soon after your crash will ensure that your case is underway before the deadline.
What Steps Should I Take After Suffering Airbag Injuries in a Collision?
If you suffer an airbag injury in a crash, request an ambulance or tell the investigating police officers about it. This will ensure that the accident report documents your injury.
If you aren’t transported to the hospital via EMS, try to document the crash scene by taking photos and videos. Gather witness contact information and any other evidence that could be relevant.
Once you leave the crash scene, visit a doctor to get a diagnosis and treatment plan. Your medical records will support your injury claim.
Contact Our Chicago Car Accident Law Firm For a Free Consultation
Airbags can cause painful injuries that require medication and treatment. Contact Attorneys of Chicago Personal Injury Lawyers to discuss the compensation we can seek for your airbag injury. We offer a free initial consultation.
