If you’re in a car wreck, you might walk away with no damage whatsoever. Maybe the car behind you taps your rear bumper because you stopped suddenly. Even if you and another vehicle made significant contact, perhaps you sustained no injuries, and they didn’t either.
If so, you’ll know you got lucky, but maybe the car’s safety measures and features helped. You will find seatbelts with shoulder harnesses if you buy any modern vehicle, and you should find airbags as well.
Airbags saved 2,800 people in a single year recently, so there’s no doubt they save lives. However, they don’t always deploy like the manufacturer intended.
Let’s discuss airbags in detail in the following article. We’ll also discuss how airbag deployment can impact your car accident claim.
Controversy Surrounding Airbags
When airbags first came out, some car manufacturers felt they’d revolutionize the industry. They thought they represented a huge leap forward. If a violent car wreck occurred, someone might live if the airbag deployed, where they might have died before they had that feature in their vehicle.
Airbags save lives, though they sometimes injure drivers and passengers too. That’s why they remain controversial in some circles. Some motorists don’t trust them.
Still, most modern vehicles have them, and if you don’t want one, you usually need an older car model. If you buy any modern car, you can expect airbags as a standard safety feature, though you won’t see them until a violent collision causes their appearance.
Now, let’s talk about airbag deployment and car accident claims. You make a claim with a car insurance company following a crash. If another driver caused the wreck, you’ll file a claim with their insurance company demanding monetary compensation.
Claims Adjusters and What They Do
Car insurance companies employ what they call claims adjusters. These individuals examine car accident cases. They start working when you contact them and tell them about a wreck.
They will immediately look at the police report for the incident. They may interview all drivers and passengers involved. They’ll look at vehicle damage reports, and they’ll also probably review any eyewitness accounts or video evidence if any exists.
These claims adjustors don’t hand out money or recommend damage amounts with generosity in mind. They use exactly the opposite strategy. Claims adjustors reward smaller amounts if they feel they can successfully do so.
Car insurance companies don’t have nonprofit status. They’re for-profit entities. Claims adjustors try to retain as much money as they can for the companies that employ them. That might seem callous, but that’s their job.
Auto Insurance Companies Take Airbag-Related Claims More Seriously
When an auto accident occurs, a claims adjustor looks into the claim that lands on their desk. They first determine whether it has merit or not. If it becomes obvious that it does, they then determine how much money they should offer as compensation.
Claims adjustors usually try downplaying accidents whenever they can, and they do so because if they can save money for the company that employs them, it makes them more valuable. If they see a claim, for instance, and they see that one car hit another, but the airbag didn’t deploy, they can say it’s not as serious. They can offer less money and see whether the individual involved will accept that amount.
However, if the airbag deploys, the driver who deserves compensation can claim they deserve more.
That’s a fundamental difference when you’re looking at an accident. If the airbag deployed, you can rightly claim the other car hit you harder, and you sustained more serious injuries unless the airbag deployed through faulty means.
This comes into play sometimes if a claims adjustor says the driver shouldn’t get very much money. That driver can hire a lawyer and demand more money from the insurance company. They might face off in court, but airbag deployment almost always means more serious accidents and even a claims adjustor might admit that if you asked them about it directly.
Airbags Might Cause Additional Injuries
Airbag deployment can sometimes change these claims in additional ways. Most notably, an airbag that deploys might injure the driver or passenger more severely.
It’s ironic that this can happen since airbags ostensibly exist for protection. Usually, they provide that service. However, if airbags deploy a certain way, they can hurt the individual impacted, even if the deployment means that person doesn’t strike their head or sternum on the dashboard or windshield.
An airbag can fracture ribs, cause eye injuries, cause soft tissue injuries, cause lacerations, and much more. If the airbag doesn’t deploy just right, this all becomes much more likely
A claims adjustor and the insurance company they represent must consider this as well. If a car crash specialist says an airbag caused some serious damage, and they can show medical and scientific evidence backing that up, that probably means a higher settlement offer from the car insurance company.
What if a Car Insurance Company Won’t Pay?
If a car insurance company won’t pay, or if they say they’ll pay you after an accident, but it’s a relatively small amount that won’t cover your lost wages, medical bills, and also your pain and suffering, you must hire a lawyer and contest the matter in court. The right law firm can help you since they’ll also have investigators who can take the stand and argue on your behalf.
As for airbags, they still save lives every year, and for the most part, you should feel glad your car has them. However, they represent certain dangers, and that’s undeniable. There’s abundant evidence that shows this, and if one deploys, it might sometimes hurt you.
You and your lawyer must consider this when you’re figuring out how much money you should demand. It’s possible that you and the car insurance company can come to terms without going through a long, drawn-out trial process. They might offer you a settlement that you find acceptable.
