You might not think of air bags very often, but they’ve saved more than 50,000 lives since 1987, according to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA). While air bags can prevent serious injuries, they are designed to work in addition to seat belts, not to replace them.
Air bags have been making the news regularly due to the ongoing Takata air bag recalls. In this article, we’ll explain what you should know about air bags and staying safe on the road.
How Air Bags Work
Frontal and side-impact air bags are designed to deploy during moderate to severe crashes. A signal from the air bag system’s electronic control unit goes to an inflator within the air bag module. This starts a chemical reaction which inflates the air bag in less than 1/20th of a second.
Since air bags deploy so rapidly, serious or sometimes fatal injuries can occur if the driver or passenger is too close to the air bag. Sitting as far back from the dashboard as possible and using seat belts help keep drivers and passengers from getting too close to the air bag when it deploys. Rear-facing car seats shouldn’t be place in front of an active air bag and children under age 13 should always sit in the back seat.
Front air bags have been standard in all passenger vehicles since the late 1990s. Side air bags are offered as standard or optional on many passenger vehicles. Side air bags provide additional protection in side collisions. They inflate even faster than front air bags.
Air bags are designed to only deploy once. Be sure to replace used air bags right away after a crash before you drive the vehicle again. Only get air bags replaced at an authorized repair center.
Air Bag Recalls
Tens of millions of vehicles in the United States are subject to recall due to a safety defect affecting Takata air bags. The air bags under recall may explode and result in serious injury or death. Check this list of affected vehicles to see if your vehicle is included in the recall. If your vehicle has been recalled, contact your dealer for the repair.
You can get answers to common questions about air bags with this detailed resource from the NHTSA.
If you or a loved one has been injured, contact the Schuerman Law office today. Schuerman Law has been working with personal injury claims for over 40 years. John Schuerman will compassionately advocate for injured individuals as well as their families while fighting for full compensation of their claims. Schuerman Law offers evening and weekend appointments in addition to home and hospital visits. Schedule a free consultation today by calling 1-800-274-0045.
