Air Bag F.A.Q.s

Here are some frequently asked questions about airbags:

When do airbags deploy?
Airbags are designed to deploy in frontal and near-frontal collisions, which is comparable to hitting a solid barrier at approximately 8 to 14 miles per hour. A 14 mile per hour barrier collision is equivalent to striking a parked car of similar size across the full front of each vehicle at about 28 miles per hour. The parked car absorbs some of the crash energy and is pushed by the striking vehicle. Unlike crash tests into barriers, real-world crashes typically occur at angles, and the crash forces usually are not evenly distributed across the front of the vehicle. Since air bag sensors measure deceleration, vehicle speed and damage aren’t adequate indicators of whether or not an air bag should have deployed. Sometimes air bags may deploy due to the vehicle’s undercarriage violently striking a low object protruding above the roadway surface. Despite the lack of visible front-end damage, high deceleration forces may occur in this type of crash, resulting in the deployment of the air bag.

How does the airbag inflate?
When there is a moderate to severe frontal crash that requires the frontal air bag to deploy, a signal is sent to the inflator unit within the air bag module. An igniter starts a reaction, which produces a gas to fill the airbag, making the airbag deploy through the module cover. Some air bag technologies use nitrogen gas to fill the air bag while others use argon gas. The entire deployment and inflation process happens in only about 1/20th of a second, faster than the blink of an eye. Because a vehicle changes speed so fast in a crash, air bags must inflate rapidly if they are to help reduce the risk of the occupant hitting the vehicle’s interior.

What happens after deployment?
Once an air bag deploys, deflation begins immediately as the gas escapes through vents in the fabric. Deployment is frequently accompanied by the release of dust-like particles in the vehicle’s interior. Most of this dust consists of cornstarch or talcum powder used to lubricate the air bag during deployment. Small amounts of sodium hydroxide may initially be present which may cause minor irritation to the eyes and/or open wounds. With exposure to air, sodium hydroxide quickly turns into sodium bicarbonate or baking soda. Depending on the type of air bag system, potassium chloride (a table salt substitute) may also be present.

Can I use the airbag more than once?
No. After the airbag deploys and inflates and deflates; it’s useless. You have to take the car in for service to get another airbag module installed.

Can inside positioning cause airbag problems?
Yes. Drivers and passengers can be seriously injured or killed if they are not properly restrained. Drivers should sit at least 10-inches between the center of their breast bone and the center of the steering wheel.

Are airbags safe for children?
Yes and no; children 12 and under should always ride restrained in the rear seat. Do not put a rear-facing infant restraint in the front seat of a vehicle with a front passenger airbag because it put the infant’s head close to the airbag module which most likely will cause severe injuries or death if the airbag deploys.

How do I file a complaint against airbags or seatbelts?
Go to Safecar.gov – http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/

Can I afford an airbag injury lawsuit?
Yes, if you decide to retain Anapol Schwartz, a law firm with offices in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Anapol Schwartz takes a certain number of defective airbag cases on a contingency fee basis. This means if you don’t win your case, Anapol Schwartz doesn’t get paid. They are motivated to win. To find out if you have a defective airbag lawsuit, please answer a few confidential questions.

Contact the Philadelphia Lawyers at Anapol Schwartz who will ask a few questions to determine what your legal options are. Rest assured that your information is confidential and there’s no commitment to continue. Let us help.

Airbag Lawsuits: Please fill out the form below to see if you have a case!

Generally air bags save lives but air bags can also cause serious injury and can be fatal. If you have been seriously injured or a family member has been seriously injured or died due to a faulty air bag, consult with Anapol Schwartz, Pennsylvania and New Jersey law firm, about filing a fatal air bag lawsuit or serious air bag injury lawsuit. Don’t wait forever. Each state has statute of limitations for fi ling lawsuits. The last thing you want is to regret fi ling a lawsuit in time.

* Required Fields. * Click on the Disclaimer, below, for Terms PERSONAL INFORMATION
First Name:
Last Name:
E-mail Address:
Address:
City:
State:	-Please Select- Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Puerto Rico Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virgin Islands Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming
Zipcode:
Phone:	() - ext.
INCIDENT INFORMATION
Model Car:
Manufacturer of Car:
Year of Car:	2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 1947 1946 1945 1944 1943 1942 1941 1940 1939 1938 1937 1936 1935 1934 1933 1932 1931 1930 1929 1928 1927 1926 1925 1924 1923 1922 1921 1920 1919 1918 1917 1916 1915 1914 1913 1912 1911 1910 1909 1908 1907 1906 1905 1904 1903 1902
Date of Accident:	January February March April May June July August September October November December 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 1947 1946 1945 1944 1943 1942 1941 1940 1939 1938 1937 1936 1935 1934 1933 1932 1931 1930 1929 1928 1927 1926 1925 1924 1923 1922 1921 1920 1919 1918 1917 1916 1915 1914 1913 1912 1911 1910 1909 1908 1907 1906 1905 1904 1903 1902
Location of Accident:	-Please Select- Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Puerto Rico Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virgin Islands Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming
Please describe the accident and any problems with the airbag:
Please describe any injuries suffered:
Other Comments/Questions: