AirBagDefects.com

Welcome to Air Bag Defects! 

The air bag (airbag) was invented by John Hetrick in 1952 with the intention of being a safety alternative to seat belts. It was installed by Chrysler in 1967 for experimental purposes. In Less than 20 years the safety alternative became a premium option as an additional safety measure in premium automobiles, like those from Mercedes-Benz.

On April 1, 1989 the U.S. government required all cars produced as of that date the have air bags installed. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, between 1960 and 2002 front air bags saved over 12,000 lives.

Air bags are supplemental safety devices designed to work with seat belts to minimize injuries in vehicle collisions.  Air bags reduce the chance that an occupant's upper body or head will strike the vehicle's interior during a crash. Both frontal and side-impact air bags are designed to deploy in moderate to severe crashes.

During a car accident various sensors throughout the vehicle determine the severity of the crash.  An onboard computer, called the Electronic Control Unit (ECU), processes the information and, in an event of moderate to severe crash, it sends a signal to the inflator inside the air bag module. At that point the air bag inflates.

According to the NHTSA, from 1990 to 2001, 215 deaths were caused by air bags inflating in low-severity crashes. These deaths include 72 drivers; 10 adult passengers; 111 children between the ages of 1 and 11; and 22 infants. 

When air bags deflate, they do so at high speed and with great force.  An impact to the face, even when properly restrained occupants, can create severe injuries - or even death. Frequently, accident victims are affected numerous facial injuries or damaged eyes that result in long lasting suffering, such as blindness. 

Additionally, a litigation history tells, a small percentage of injuries or deaths involving air bags is caused by a defect in the device.

Whether it be a defective air bag, an air bag that inflated too soon, one that inflated too late, or one that never deflated, victims of car accidents face many challenges.

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