Subaru is in the hot seat again over its Outback. A Virginia woman is seeking class action status in her case against the automotive manufacturer for injuries she suffered due to what court papers cite as “excessive and dangerous force” after a very minor accident. The driver’s side curtain airbag deployed so hard and so fast that it injured the victim’s spine and neck — when she would have likely had no injuries at all from the original accident.
This isn’t the first time some part of the Outback has been called defective or poorly designed. There have already been lawsuits over its windshield defects. This also isn’t the first time that someone’s been seriously injured by an airbag.
While airbags absolutely do save lives, the rate of their deploy, the chemicals they use and their overall design can all cause or contribute to various injuries, including:
- Orbital fractures and other eye injuries
- Permanent hearing loss and trauma to the inner ear
- Internal bleeding, which can lead to death
- Broken facial bones
- Contusions, abrasions, chemical burns, friction burns and scars on the arms, chest and face
- Injuries to the cervical spine, including broken vertebra, slipped discs and spinal cord damage
- Injuries to the internal organs, like liver, kidney, spleen and heart
- Broken finger and hand bones
- Broken ribs, arms and wrists
If you’ve been in an accident where the airbag deployed and you were seriously injured, it’s important not to discount the possibility that the vehicle’s manufacturer should share some liability for your losses.
Any car accident, no matter how seemingly benign, has the potential to be serious. It’s always wisest to seek experienced counsel when negotiating a claim.
