Burns and Lacerations From Exploding Airbags: What to Look For

The very things that are supposed to save our lives can now put them in jeopardy. In recent years, there have been a record number of recalls for faulty airbags that can explode and injure both drivers and passengers.

When airbags explode, they can cause burns and lacerations. Some of these injuries may not seem that serious at first, but they actually are. What appears as a laceration, for example, could turn into a serious infection. If not treated properly, such an infection can lead to serious health issues or even death.

Why Burns and Lacerations Occur

Airbags are built to deploy. An explosion only occurs if something isn’t right with the airbag. When they explode, they can cause all kinds of injuries.

Airbag-related injuries have unique patterns. For this reason, they’re much easier to identify. Burns, for instance, may appear in specific shapes or textures due to the contact with the airbag’s material.

Lacerations, on the other hand, may appear spiky. That’s because of the small fragments that fly out of the airbags at speeds of up to 200 miles per hour.

Common Signs of Burns From Exploding Airbags  

Thermal burns are one of the most common injuries from exploding airbags. Check for red, blistered skin, especially on areas like the hands, face, and chest.

These burns may look similar to a severe sunburn but may feel hotter and more painful. In many cases, blisters appear quickly and vary in size depending on how the skin came in contact with the airbag.

Chemical burns may not be immediately obvious, but they can turn deadly if ignored. Look for signs such as:

• Redness
• Itching
• Swelling
• Stinging

You’ll find these signs on the section of the skin that touched the airbag powder or gas. The affected area might develop peeling or rash-like irritation within a few hours.

Chemical burns sometimes have a distinct odor. So if you smell something unusual near the injury, that could be a sign of a chemical component.

How to Identify Lacerations and Cuts From Airbag Deployment

The face and neck are particularly vulnerable to cuts during airbag deployment. These cuts can be long, jagged, and deeper than typical scratches.

Lacerations and cuts on the arms and hands are also quite common. That’s because people instinctively raise their arms to shield themselves during impact.

Cuts on the hands, knuckles, and forearms can range from small but deep to larger abrasions. Sometimes, the palms may even have fragments of airbag material embedded in the skin.  

What to Do Immediately After an Airbag-Related Injury

If you’ve suffered burns caused by an exploding airbag, here’s what to do:

Cool the area with water to reduce damage and soothe the pain.

Don’t use ice for cooling. It may help numb the pain but can also cause further harm to the skin.

Once the area has cooled, apply a clean, non-stick dressing to protect it from dirt and bacteria. Avoid popping any blisters; they are unsightly but they also offer protection from infection.

If there is a laceration, apply gentle pressure to stop any bleeding. Then, clean the area with clean water. If you have antibiotic ointment, apply it before covering the cut with a sterile dressing.

When to Seek Professional Help

You should get checked by a doctor even if the wounds don’t seem that serious. If you wait too long to seek medical attention, the wounds could get infected by bacteria. That alone could turn an already bad situation into something even worse.

If any burns or cuts cause prolonged or worsening pain, it could mean that there’s a deeper issue. You may be dealing with a case of nerve damage, for example.

With burns, watch out for signs such as increased pain, swelling, or a bad odor. They may signal an infection. For cuts, symptoms like throbbing pain or redness spreading around the area suggest it might need stitches or professional cleaning.

Chemical burns, in particular, can be unpredictable. For instance, they may not show any symptoms until hours later. If the skin begins to peel, itch intensely, or show unusual colors like yellow or green, you should contact a healthcare provider as soon as possible.

The bottom line is that you shouldn’t take any airbag injury lightly. We’re talking about metal shards being fired right into your flesh. That could cause serious health problems, and when you’ve suffered nerve damage, you may not even feel pain.

The absence of pain doesn’t necessarily mean the absence of injury. You may have suffered serious internal injuries, but your body won’t be able to communicate to you about it due to nerve damage. Do not take things lightly – get medical attention immediately.

Grounds for Taking Legal Action

Airbags shouldn’t cause you more harm than good. However, if the design is flawed or safety standards are not met, these safety devices can become dangerous weapons.

Manufacturing defects can make airbags dangerous. Even a small error during production can lead to malfunctioning airbags that deploy too forcefully or at the wrong angle.

Additionally, airbag manufacturers are required to provide adequate warnings about airbag risks. If they don’t, or if they leave out important safety instructions, you could have a claim against them.

Sadly, cases of airbags causing life-changing injuries or even claiming the passengers and drivers are not uncommon. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, at the time of writing, there have been 28 confirmed deaths in the United States caused by defective Takata PSAN airbags alone. More than 400 people have survived with serious injuries.

Talk to an Airbag Injury Expert From Morgan and Morgan

There’s a deep sense of betrayal in discovering that the same devices designed to protect lives can turn into deadly weapons in a single crash. The truth is that some of these injuries happen because of the manufacturer’s negligence. 

Since these multibillion-dollar companies put profits over human lives, they should be held responsible. That’s where a defective airbag injury attorney from Morgan and Morgan comes in to take on big corporations on behalf of the injured. 

Our goal is to fight for those who’ve been injured by or even lost their lives to these defective airbags and help them or their surviving loved ones get the compensation they need and deserve to move forward with their lives. If that sounds like what you need, please reach out to us today to get started with a free case evaluation.