Motor vehicle accidents are a daily occurrence in America, and airbags go a long way toward preventing serious injury or death. However, New Hampshire residents should understand that airbags can cause injury too, such as abrasions; lacerations; bruises; and yes, even burns. It may sound strange, but it’s possible to suffer burn injuries due to airbag deployment in a motor vehicle accident.
What you need to know about airbag-related burns
Many people don’t know that there is a chemical reaction involved when an airbag deploys. The result is the release of a lot of hot gas into your car’s interior. This airbag deployment method creates the risk of sustaining both heat and chemical-related burns. A dangerous caveat of airbag burns is that it can sometimes be difficult to determine if they are chemical- or heat-related. Chemical burns require different treatment than thermal burns, which makes airbag-related burns not only unexpected but complex as well. A burn from airbag deployment should never be marginalized or misrepresented. An experienced personal injury lawyer is often a valuable ally when pursuing compensation for airbag burns from a motor vehicle accident.
Airbag burns can be serious matters
Even if the burns are minor, you still may suffer from pain and have to make multiple trips to medical facilities while you heal. If the burn is severe enough, you may even need to miss time from work or manage the reality of an unsightly scar. Airbag burns tend to occur on the hands, arms and upper torso, which can be socially uncomfortable areas to sustain permanent scarring. Remember that it’s not uncommon for airbag-related burns to be as severe as second- and, sometimes, even third-degree ones.
Good advice never hurts
A burn caused by airbag deployment during a motor vehicle accident has a good chance of causing you to incur medical bills and should be taken seriously by the liable driver’s insurance carrier. Furthermore, because airbag burns can be difficult to classify, it may be necessary to seek the advice of an experienced personal injury lawyer who can help you determine your options for recourse.