Airbag Injuries In Columbia, SC

If you’ve suffered injuries from airbag deployment in a Columbia car accident, whether from the impact itself or a defective airbag system, the experienced Columbia car crash lawyers at Stewart Law Offices can help. For over 30 years, our attorneys have protected crash victims’ rights throughout South Carolina, recovering millions of dollars in compensation. 

We understand the airbag injuries can be medically complex and legally challenging, especially when determining whether the injury was caused by the crash or a malfunctioning airbag. We carefully examine every detail of your accident to identify all liable parties and fight for the full compensation you deserve.

Airbags represent one of the most significant safety advances in automotive history. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), frontal airbags have saved more than 50,000 lives over a 30-year period. These inflatable cushions deploy in less than 1/20th of a second during crashes, creating a protective barrier between vehicle occupants and hard surfaces like steering wheels, dashboards, and windows. However, the same explosive force that makes airbags life-saving can also cause serious injuries under certain circumstances.

Why Airbag Injuries Occur

Modern vehicles contain multiple airbag systems designed to protect occupants from different types of impacts. Front airbags protect against head-on collisions, side-curtain airbags shield against T-bone crashes, and knee airbags prevent lower extremity injuries. When crash sensors detect sufficient impact force, they trigger inflators that rapidly fill the bags with gas.

This instantaneous deployment creates tremendous force. While this force is necessary to prevent occupants from striking hard surfaces during crashes, it can also cause injuries, particularly when:

  • Occupants sit too close to the airbag deployment zones
  • Passengers have their hands on or near the steering wheel during deployment
  • Small-statured adults or improperly restrained children are in the front seats
  • Airbags deploy during minor collisions where they’re not necessary
  • Defective airbag systems malfunction
  • Counterfeit or improperly installed airbags fail to function correctly

Types of Injuries Caused by Airbag Deployment

Airbag deployment can cause a wide range of injuries, including:

  • Broken Bones – ribs, wrists, and facial bones are often fractured by the force of deployment.
  • Head and Neck Trauma – concussions, whiplash, and other head injuries are common.
  • Internal Injuries – blunt force can damage organs and cause internal bleeding.
  • Back Injuries – sudden impact may strain or damage the spine.
  • Disfigurement – facial injuries can result in scarring or permanent disfigurement.

When Defective Airbags Cause Additional Harm

While properly functioning airbags save lives, defective systems create additional dangers. According to IIHS research, NHTSA estimates that during 1990-2008, more than 290 deaths were caused by frontal airbag inflation in low-speed crashes. Nearly 90% of these deaths occurred in vehicles manufactured before 1998 with more powerful first-generation airbags.

Airbag defects that cause injuries include:

  • Failure to Deploy: When airbags don’t deploy during serious crashes, occupants suffer injuries they should have been protected from.
  • Delayed Deployment: Airbags that deploy too late fail to cushion occupants during initial impact.
  • Aggressive Deployment in Minor Crashes: Some defective sensors cause airbags to deploy during fender benders or when hitting potholes, causing unnecessary injuries.
  • Excessive Force Deployment: Overly powerful inflation can cause more severe injuries than the crash itself would have produced.
  • Shrapnel Injuries: The massive Takata airbag recalls involved inflators that degraded over time and expelled metal fragments during deployment, causing catastrophic injuries and deaths.
  • Counterfeit Airbags: NHTSA issued a 2024 consumer alert after at least three people were killed and two suffered life-altering, disfiguring injuries due to faulty aftermarket replacement airbag inflators. Counterfeit airbags may fail to deploy or release metal shrapnel.

How Liability Is Determined in Airbag Injury Cases

Liability depends on the circumstances:

  • Driver negligence – if another driver caused the crash.
  • Defective airbags – if the airbag failed to deploy or deployed improperly.
  • Manufacturer responsibility – if design flaws or recalls were ignored.

A Columbia Car Accident Attorneys review accident reports, medical records, and product defect evidence to build strong cases.

How Airbag Injuries Affect Car Accident Claims in Columbia

Airbag injuries often increase the value and complexity of a car accident claim. Medical treatment may be more extensive, recovery longer, and long-term effects more severe. Insurers may dispute causation, making experienced legal representation critical.

Whether you need a car accident attorney to negotiate a settlement or prepare for trial, Stewart Law Offices is equipped to protect your rights.

Visit Our Auto Injury Lawyers in Columbia

Contact Stewart Law Offices in Columbia, SC for Your Airbag Injury Case

Airbag injury cases present unique challenges because proving whether injuries stemmed from the crash itself or from defective airbags requires extensive investigation, expert testimony, and knowledge of complex automotive engineering. Insurance companies and manufacturers often employ teams of lawyers and experts to minimize compensation or deny claims, but at Stewart Law Offices, our Car accident lawyer in Columbia, SC have the resources and experience to take them on.

We understand the medical complexities of airbag injuries and know how to prove liability in these challenging cases. Call 803-743-4200 or contact us us online today for your free, confidential consultation. Let our experienced team fight for the compensation you deserve.