On 6/29/16, Toyota announced a recall of 1.43 million Lexus and Prius hybrid 2010 to 2012 model cars equipped with airbags made by Autoliv. Although there have been no reports of injuries to date, Toyota has been made aware of incidents in which Autoliv bags deployed spontaneously in parked vehicles. This comes shortly after another major recall by several large car companies involving airbags made by Takata that would send metal pieces into the car cabins when they exploded. Toyota reports the Autoliv airbags have had similar circumstances.

Although airbags are intended to make drivers and passengers safer in auto accidents, this requires the bags to be properly designed, manufactured and installed by industry and used according to directions by the vehicles occupants. A deficiency in any part of the process can actually make the airbag an added danger in an accident or even perhaps a deadly component in an otherwise minor crash. While there’s no foolproof way to avoid an accident or airbag injury, there are precautions that can be taken. These include paying attention to manufacturer recalls and heeding the instructions for all occupants in the vehicle to wear a seat belt, even those in the back seat. Children 12 years and younger should not sit in the front seat and NEVER use a rear facing child car seat in a seat that has frontal airbags. Other safety considerations can be reviewed at http://www.safercar.gov/Air+Bags.

Unintended airbag injuries can be complicated part of a personal injury case following an auto accident. The design of an airbag, the materials used in manufacturing of the bag, and mechanism of injury all have to be analyzed to determine what part of the injury, if any, could have been avoided. Clayton Syfrett is an attorney with Syfrett, Dykes & Furr. Before becoming a personal injury lawyer, Clayton graduated from University of Florida Engineering School. This background in engineering helps to breakdown the complicated issues surrounding unintended airbag injuries as well as other aspects of how an accident happens and who may have been at fault. If you have been in an auto accident, you may benefit from the free consultation available with Clayton Syfrett. Call Syfrett, Dykes & Furr at F:P:Site:Phone}.