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How Serious Does a Car Accident Have to Be for Airbags to Deploy?

Modern automobiles equip drivers and passengers with a wealth of features that keep them safe. Vehicles now come with advanced safety measures like braking assistance, backup cameras, automated emergency braking, collision avoidance systems, pedestrian recognition, and blind spot mirrors.

Although many drivers take modern safety technology for granted, even seat belts in their present 3-point configuration weren’t made mandatory in vehicles in the United States until 1968.

Similarly, airbags are a relatively recent feature — only required in passenger vehicles since 1999 — that drivers are frequently fascinated by and apprehensive of. Fortunately, many people have never come into contact with them because they only deploy under specific circumstances.

What Triggers Airbag Deployment?

When a collision happens, sensors in the car assess its severity and transmit a signal that sets off a chemical reaction that inflates the airbags. The airbags may deploy in a minor collision if the other car or item strikes the vehicle at precisely the correct position and speed to activate the sensors intended to detect moderate to severe impact.

How Do Airbags Protect Drivers and Passengers?

All new automobiles must feature frontal airbags. In the event of a collision, these airbags are intended to deploy in 30 milliseconds. Once inflated, the bag functions as a cushion to deflect the driver’s or passenger’s forward motion and prevent them from slamming into the dashboard or steering wheel.

A person’s side or head, which is frequently jostled in a collision, can be protected by side-impact airbags. Side airbags are optional but are found in many cars. This feature prevents a person from contact with the side windows and door.

Can Airbags Cause Damage?

There is a danger of injury for drivers or passengers who sit too close to the steering wheel or dashboard or ride with their legs on the dashboard. If someone is too close, the airbags will activate fast and with enough force to hurt them.

The driver and front passenger should generally keep at least 10 inches between themselves and the front of the car, and no one should put their legs on the dashboard.

Furthermore, seat belts and airbags are intended to work together. When a person decides not to buckle up and is in an accident where the airbags deploy, their risk of harm increases significantly. 

Additionally, if any personal injury claims are made, the unrestrained occupant’s decision not to wear a seat belt will be used against them. According to Florida law, this argument reduces the at-fault driver’s share of liability.

Lastly, children should not ride in the front seat since the force of an airbag may be too great for their bodies and could result in serious injury. Typically, a youngster is safer in the backseat of a car.

Could Airbags Be Defective?

Keep in mind that airbags are not designed to deploy after every crash. Similar to how seat belts are supposed to protect individuals in mild accidents, an airbag’s sensors and chemical activation are made to function in moderate to severe accidents.

After deployment, airbags must be replaced; they are only intended for one use. You need to get replacement airbags fitted if you’ve been in an accident where they deployed. It’s also crucial to check the condition of the airbags in a used car and ensure that they are correctly fitted.

Airbags can fail to deploy correctly or at all. If the crash is severe, these incidents may result in significant injuries for the people within the vehicles and warrant legal representation. 

An expert auto accident lawyer can assist you in determining whether the vehicle manufacturer could be held accountable for injuries caused by a malfunctioning airbag with a risk-free consultation.

Contact the Jacksonville Car Accident Law Firm of Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers Today For Help

For more information, please contact the Jacksonville and Ponte Vedra car accident law firm of Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers at the nearest location to schedule a free consultation today.

We serve in Duval County, St, Johns County, and its surrounding areas:

Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers – Jacksonville
9471 Baymeadows Rd #105,
Jacksonville, FL 32256
(904) 396-1100

Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers – Downtown Jacksonville
121 W. Forsyth St. #170
Jacksonville, FL 32202
(904) 822-4225

Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers – Ponte Vedra
480 Town Plaza Ave #130,
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32081
(904) 675-1167

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