BMW air bag injury woes continue

A woman in England is suing BMW for approximately $290,000 in injuries after her air bag exploded in her face, causing her temporary blindness and ongoing medical problems. The woman was a passenger in the car when her husband struck a deer on the highway. The car was traveling 97 mph at the time of the accident.

In her claim, the woman states that when the air bag inflated, it broke her eye socket, ruptured her right eyeball, and caused extensive damage to her left eye. Besides taking months off work after the May 2003 accident, she had to undergo three operations to repair the damage, and also suffered from psychological damage from her injuries. She was able to return to work for a short time after, but eventually took sick leave in September 2005 and is thought to have been off work since.

Although her husband is also named in the suit, she believes that the car contributed to her injuries, “which was not as safe as she was entitled to expect.” Her lawsuit also states that BMW failed “to design, install or supply a safe system of passenger protection.”

Air bags have improved in safety since their introduction in the 1970s, but there are still instances like this one that cause horrific and lasting injuries. Eye damage is not uncommon, though serious injuries like back and neck injuries – even death – can result from faulty air bags and deployment.

And nobody knows this better than BMW. In 2002, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recorded 265 complaints regarding BMW side air bags deploying at inappropriate times such as hitting potholes, curbs, and other objects that were non-crash situations There were 41 injuries associated with this problem, though thankfully none serious like the one described above. The NHTSA were investigating the possibility that the defect could affect up to 200,000 BMWs in the U.S.

Around the same time, the NHTSA was also investigating 26 injuries and one death related to a problem with the Kia Rio. Rather than deploying in non-crash situations, the air bags were not deploying at all, and were thought to be a factor in the severity of the accidents.

You do have a right to expect the safe functioning of all parts on your car – especially your safety features. Air bags can deploy at up to 200 mph; if not positioned or timed right, this could cause extensive injury to the driver or passengers.

If you have been injured due to defective or non-deploying air bags, contact a Jim S. Adler & Associates personal injury lawyer for more information about your rights. We have over 30 years helping victims like you claim compensation for their injuries to cover medical expenses, lost work, and pain and suffering. Call Jim S. Adler & Associates directly or fill out the free case review form on this page with the details of your air bag injury. We’ll take care of the details so you can get on with your life.

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