ASK THE VEHICLE SAFETY LAWYER – Short Drivers
Airbag Safety For Short Drivers
I Am A 5’ 2” Female And I Have To Sit Extremely Close To My Vehicle’s Steering Wheel. If I Am Involved In An Accident, Can The Airbag Seriously Injure Me?
Not only can the airbag can seriously injure you, it can kill you. Second and third generation airbags, even though, they have been de-powered from the mid 1990’s, still deploy outward at 300 mph.
Potential Risks: Airbag Safety For Short Drivers
A deploying airbag has the explosive equivalent of 20 shotgun shells. Airbags are completely inflated in less time than you can blink an eye.
Besides the forces involved when an airbag deploys, an airbag doesn’t deploy outward like a pillow. In fact, airbags deploy outward like a tube of sausage, and then the airbag takes on the shape of a pillow.
When an occupant’s chest is right against the steering wheel due to the driver’s height, there are a number of potential problems that confront the driver. First, the membrane that holds the airbag in place separates or has a flap that opens. This can cause facial lacerations. The unfolding bag can cause bag slap that can literally rip a person’s head from her shoulders. The deploying bag can sling shot an occupant rearward faster than the occupant was going forward. This can cause neck fractures and brain injuries.
Safe Distance Solution: Airbag Safety For Short Drivers
So what is a safe distance to be away from the airbag? Sit in your vehicle and put your chin on your chest and measure 16 inches from the point of your head that sticks out farthest. To do this you have moved your seat rearward. Now see if you can touch the pedals. If you can, then you have enough special distance between your body and the airbag. If you can’t touch the pedals, call the dealership and ask if they have pedal extenders. These devices have been around for years. In fact, numerous vehicles are starting to be sold that allow the driver to move the pedals toward them so that they stay away from the airbag. If you can’t touch the pedals try wearing a shoe with a bigger sole so the shoe’s thickness will help stretch your body length.
Precautions: Airbag Safety For Short Drivers
Airbags are a wonderful safety device. But for an airbag to do its job, you need to take a few precautions.
- First, always wear your seatbelt. An airbag is the secondary safety system. The seat belt is the primary safety system.
- Second, sit as far away as possible from the airbag.
- Third, always try and sit straight up rather than leaning to one side or positioning you out-of-position.
- Fourth, never have anything between you and the airbag like a pet, purse or whatever.
- Lastly, don’t carry sharp objects in your shirt pockets because a deploying airbag can turn a pen into a lethal weapon.
Car Airbags and Short People – Advocating For Individuals Who Have Suffered Injuries in Vehicular Accidents
For more than two decades, The Tracy Firm has has recovered major financial damages for their clients as a safety watchdog over auto manufacturers. Their team of experienced attorneys understands the complex nature of personal injury and vehicle crashworthiness cases and works tirelessly to build strong legal strategies.
The Tracy Firm, a renowned legal establishment, has been dedicated to advocating for individuals who have suffered injuries in vehicular accidents. With a focus on enhancing safety, their expertise spans various areas including manufacturing design defects, safety system failures, vehicle aggressiveness and vehicle crashworthiness throughout the United States.
The most beneficial effect of their legal work can help bring some closure to a tragedy by winning either a settlement or verdict from the jury.
Todd Tracy brings to bear his experience from thousands of complex cases as well as his knowledge of automotive engineering to expose safety failures and unsafe vehicles.
The Tracy Firm specializes in an area of law called vehicle crashworthiness which involves complicated engineering, scientific and mathematical formulas. Todd Tracy brings the knowledge from his undergraduate college degree in physics to the courtroom and is the only car accident lawyer in the nation that runs a Crash Lab.
By filing a lawsuit, The Tracy Firm starts a legal process to expose the failure of the vehicle’s safety system and its unsafe design.
Tracy’s Crash Lab team uses sophisticated digital imaging equipment and conducts crash tests to prove his client’s cases.
The Tracy Law Firm builds your personal injury lawsuit or wrongful death lawsuit for product liability by linking the deaths or severe injuries such as traumatic brain injury, paralysis, loss of limbs, crushed limbs, loss of eyesight, loss of speech and facial scars directly to the failure of the vehicle’s safety systems.
This systematic approach stems from Todd Tracy’s knowledge of automotive safety systems, the Vehicle Crashworthiness law governing these systems, and the evidence required to prevail and recover financial damages for you and your family.
The Tracy Firm has recovered substantial financial damages from car companies and car dealers for their clients. They represent victims in personal injury lawsuits and wrongful death lawsuits. You don’t pay a penny unless Todd wins.
Airbag Safety For Short Drivers – Contact The Tracy Law Firm
Contact The Tracy Firm today to schedule a free consultation. Contact us online, or, call us today at 214-324-9000 if you or your loved ones are seriously injured in an accident.
