| 1100 N.W. Loop 410, Suite 365 San Antonio, Texas 78213 Tel. (210) 979-9777 Fax. (210) 979-9774 |
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AIR BAG INJURY
Airbags have been in use for many years now. In fact, some of the major U.S. automobile manufacturers
began installing airbags in some of their vehicles in the early 1970s. While they do save lives, airbags can also
cause some unforeseen problems. Children riding in the front seat can be seriously injured or killed when an
airbag deploys in a crash. An airbag is not a soft, billowy pillow. To do its job, an airbag comes out of the
dashboard at up to 200 miles per hour - faster than the blink of an eye. The force of an airbag can hurt those
who are too close to it.
Even when one is cautious, airbags can be unforgiving. When a manufacturer designs, produces, or installs an
airbag incorrectly, serious injuries and deaths can result. Defective airbags include, but are not limited to,
those that deploy with too much force, deploy in minor collisions when they are not otherwise needed, or
fail to deploy under circumstances in which they should.
Airbags are designed to save lives in the event of an auto accident. Occasionally, though, an inflated airbag
may injure a passenger. Most bags deploy with a tremendous amount of force, thus posing a serious threat
to those who sit too closely to them.
Federal regulations required that airbags be installed in all passenger cars, vans, pickup trucks and utility
vehicles as of September 1, 1998. Airbags clearly are successful at decreasing injury severity during a MVA.
Based on all types of crashes, they decrease fatalities by 21-22% for unbelted drivers, and by 9-16% for
drivers wearing seatbelts.
Airbag deployment unfortunately has introduced a new spectrum of injuries; numerous reports of injury
patterns exist. The majority are relatively minor, and usually consist of erythema, abrasions, and contusions
to the face, anterior neck, or upper chest. More serious harm is rare, but there are accounts of life-threatening
trauma in the literature. Damage to the eye, cervical spine, facial nerve, temporomandibular joint, facial
skeleton and upper airway injury are of particular importance to the practicing otolaryngologist. Recent
reports have documented a total of 13 people with otologic symptoms of hearing loss, tinnitus and / or
disequilibrium.
A number of patients with unusual otologic findings after airbag deployment were recently encountered in
our practice. Many of these problems are yet to be described in the literature. The purpose of the present
study is to retrospectively review these patients, as well as to discuss all relevant literature.
Airbags are clearly successful at mitigating injury severity during a motor vehicle accident (MVA).
Deployment unfortunately has introduced new injury-causing mechanisms. A retrospective review of 20
patients who sustained otologic injuries resulting from airbag inflation was conducted. The most common
complaints were hearing loss in 17 (85%), and tinnitus in 17 (85%). Objective hearing loss was documented
in 21 of 24 (88%) subjectively affected ears; this included unilateral and bilateral sensorineural, unilateral
conductive, and mixed hearing losses. Ten patients (50%) experienced disequilibrium. Four subjects (20%)
had a tympanic membrane (TM) perforation; each required surgical closure. Ear orientation toward the airbag
was found to be associated with hearing loss (p = .027), aural fullness (p = .039), and TM perforation (p =
.0004). A wide variety of airbag-induced otologic injuries occur and may have long-term sequelae. It is
important for health care personnel to be aware of these potential problems.
A wide variety of airbag-induced otologic injuries occur and may have long-term sequelae. These include
temporary or permanent hearing loss, tinnitus, disequilibrium, and otalgia. Four TM perforations were
documented, and each required surgical intervention. Ear orientation was found to be a statistically
significant variable associated with hearing loss, aural fullness, and TM perforation. Based on results of this
study, implementation of new lateral (side) airbags may increase the chance of these injuries as deployment
conditions change.
It is important for health care personnel to be cognizant of these potential injuries since airbags are now
ubiquitous. Recognition of injury patterns is a logical step toward airbag design modification. Refinements
may reduce both the incidence and severity of this new injury spectrum.
If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of an airbag, don't fight the battle alone. Please contact us
(210) 979-9777 or visit our web sites http://www.thebaezlawfirm.com or
http://www.sanantoniopersonalinjurytriallawyers.com because: "We care about your legal needs."
began installing airbags in some of their vehicles in the early 1970s. While they do save lives, airbags can also
cause some unforeseen problems. Children riding in the front seat can be seriously injured or killed when an
airbag deploys in a crash. An airbag is not a soft, billowy pillow. To do its job, an airbag comes out of the
dashboard at up to 200 miles per hour - faster than the blink of an eye. The force of an airbag can hurt those
who are too close to it.
Even when one is cautious, airbags can be unforgiving. When a manufacturer designs, produces, or installs an
airbag incorrectly, serious injuries and deaths can result. Defective airbags include, but are not limited to,
those that deploy with too much force, deploy in minor collisions when they are not otherwise needed, or
fail to deploy under circumstances in which they should.
Airbags are designed to save lives in the event of an auto accident. Occasionally, though, an inflated airbag
may injure a passenger. Most bags deploy with a tremendous amount of force, thus posing a serious threat
to those who sit too closely to them.
Federal regulations required that airbags be installed in all passenger cars, vans, pickup trucks and utility
vehicles as of September 1, 1998. Airbags clearly are successful at decreasing injury severity during a MVA.
Based on all types of crashes, they decrease fatalities by 21-22% for unbelted drivers, and by 9-16% for
drivers wearing seatbelts.
Airbag deployment unfortunately has introduced a new spectrum of injuries; numerous reports of injury
patterns exist. The majority are relatively minor, and usually consist of erythema, abrasions, and contusions
to the face, anterior neck, or upper chest. More serious harm is rare, but there are accounts of life-threatening
trauma in the literature. Damage to the eye, cervical spine, facial nerve, temporomandibular joint, facial
skeleton and upper airway injury are of particular importance to the practicing otolaryngologist. Recent
reports have documented a total of 13 people with otologic symptoms of hearing loss, tinnitus and / or
disequilibrium.
A number of patients with unusual otologic findings after airbag deployment were recently encountered in
our practice. Many of these problems are yet to be described in the literature. The purpose of the present
study is to retrospectively review these patients, as well as to discuss all relevant literature.
Airbags are clearly successful at mitigating injury severity during a motor vehicle accident (MVA).
Deployment unfortunately has introduced new injury-causing mechanisms. A retrospective review of 20
patients who sustained otologic injuries resulting from airbag inflation was conducted. The most common
complaints were hearing loss in 17 (85%), and tinnitus in 17 (85%). Objective hearing loss was documented
in 21 of 24 (88%) subjectively affected ears; this included unilateral and bilateral sensorineural, unilateral
conductive, and mixed hearing losses. Ten patients (50%) experienced disequilibrium. Four subjects (20%)
had a tympanic membrane (TM) perforation; each required surgical closure. Ear orientation toward the airbag
was found to be associated with hearing loss (p = .027), aural fullness (p = .039), and TM perforation (p =
.0004). A wide variety of airbag-induced otologic injuries occur and may have long-term sequelae. It is
important for health care personnel to be aware of these potential problems.
A wide variety of airbag-induced otologic injuries occur and may have long-term sequelae. These include
temporary or permanent hearing loss, tinnitus, disequilibrium, and otalgia. Four TM perforations were
documented, and each required surgical intervention. Ear orientation was found to be a statistically
significant variable associated with hearing loss, aural fullness, and TM perforation. Based on results of this
study, implementation of new lateral (side) airbags may increase the chance of these injuries as deployment
conditions change.
It is important for health care personnel to be cognizant of these potential injuries since airbags are now
ubiquitous. Recognition of injury patterns is a logical step toward airbag design modification. Refinements
may reduce both the incidence and severity of this new injury spectrum.
If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of an airbag, don't fight the battle alone. Please contact us
(210) 979-9777 or visit our web sites http://www.thebaezlawfirm.com or
http://www.sanantoniopersonalinjurytriallawyers.com because: "We care about your legal needs."
THE BAEZ LAW FIRM, P.C.
"We Care About Your Legal Needs"
"We Care About Your Legal Needs"
| We Are Professionals That Care About Your Legal Needs! |
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| This web site is designed for general information only. The information presented at this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship. Persons accessing this site are encouraged to seek independent counsel for advice regarding their individual legal issues. |
Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
Copyright © 2008 The Báez Law Firm, P.C. All Rights Reserved!
San Antonio Personal Injury Attorneys
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PHYSICAL LOCATION:
| 1100 N.W. Loop 410, Suite 365 San Antonio, Texas 78213 Tel. (210) 979-9777 Fax. (210) 979-9774 |
INTERNET LOCATIONS:
http://www.sanantoniopersonalinjurytriallawyers.com
http://www.thebaezlawfirm.com
http://thebaezlawfirm.blogspot.com
http://sanantoniopersonalinjurylawyers.blogspot.com
http://www.thebaezlawfirm.com
http://thebaezlawfirm.blogspot.com
http://sanantoniopersonalinjurylawyers.blogspot.com
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