The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has determined that advanced frontal air bags save lives. Although air bags have been saving lives since the 1980’s, advanced frontal air bags hadn’t reached commercial production until 2004. They use sophisticated sensors to determine whether, when and how much to deploy. Since it’s not always advantageous for a frontal air bag to deploy, this was an important advancement in passenger vehicle occupant safety technology.
Advanced Frontal Air Bags work with Your Seat Belt
It’s important to note that an advanced frontal air bag system, or any type of air bag system, doesn’t replace the importance of your seat belt. In fact, air bags actually work with your seat belt to keep you safe. Sadly, some people still think that they don’t have to wear their seat belt, because their car has frontal air bags. Nothing could be further from the truth. These two safety features work together. Most importantly, in cases where air bags aren’t deployed like certain types of rollover crashes, it’s absolutely critical to buckle up. Your life depends on it.
Advanced Frontal Air Bags: Need to Know
• Always buckle up, for every trip.
• Adults, keep at least 10 inches between your breastbone and the air bag cover.
• Children ages 12 and under should always ride in the back seat either buckled up or in size and age-appropriate restraint systems.
• The elderly and smaller sized adults should push their seats back as far as possible.
• Pregnant women should always keep at least 10 inches between their breastbone and the air bag cover, and also make sure the seat belt is positioned properly. The lap belt should be positioned low on the abdomen.
• If the air bag readiness (warning) light isn’t illuminated, you should have a qualified technician take a look as soon as possible.
• Check your vehicle’s owner manual to find out whether or not your car has advanced frontal air bags.
Air Bag Deployment in a Crash
Even though countless lives are saved by frontal airbags, buckling up is the single most effective way to protect yourself and your loved ones in the event of a crash. Airbags are not perfect. In fact some unfortunate drivers or passengers report burns that occur from air bag deployment. Spinner Law Firm, Tampa Bay Injury Attorneys know that air bag burns happen in several different ways. Because the bags deploy at such high speeds, the force with which they strike individuals can cause abrasion burns. Usually these aren’t severe and don’t cause lasting problems. While this is an unfortunate side effect of airbags, it does not outweigh the life saving benefits of frontal airbags.
After any kind of crash, whether air bags deploy or not, it’s always a good idea to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney. If you would like assistance in a crash where your frontal airbag deployed, contact Spinner Law Firm for a free no obligation consultation.
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