In a study published by the National Institute of Health (NIH), motor vehicle injuries lead to eye injuries more often than any other cause in the United States. According to the study, 75,028 eye injuries occurred from motor vehicle collisions during the seven years analyzed, and the most common rate of injury was among those aged 15 to 19. Call us for a personal injury claim in Georgia if you have experienced the same.
According to the National Library of Medicine, a MEDLINE search from 1991 to 2000 identified 263 cases of acute ocular injuries associated with airbag deployments. 101 patients suffered these injuries.
How Can Airbags Damage a Driver’s Eyes?
Although airbag deployment saves lives, it can also cause injuries. The eyes are particularly susceptible to airbag injuries. When an airbag deploys in an accident, it can be damaged in one or both of two ways:
-
Toxic Chemicals:
Airbags must swiftly inflate in order to prevent injuries. To make this happen, certain chemicals are contained in them. When they are deployed, these chemicals are released into the atmosphere and can harm the lungs and eyes.
-
Impact of Deployment:
The iris of the eye or the ocular bones can be damaged by an airbag that explodes rapidly and collides with the face. In severe cases, the retina of the eye can also be damaged by penetrating injuries.
In a study published in the Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, researchers found that eye injuries resulting from airbags in auto crashes can range from mild corneal abrasions to serious retinal detachments. The most common cause of eye injuries was impacting with a deployed airbag, but the most serious injuries resulted from airbags deployed during a collision and striking an occupant. It is possible to sustain severe eye injuries even from minor impacts.
What Factors Increase the Risk of Airbag Eye Injuries?
In the study mentioned above, researchers determined that the left eye is more susceptible to injury than the right eye. An increase in injury risks can be attributed to untethered airbags with longer inflation distances. There are still other factors that can increase the severity of airbag eye injuries, including not wearing protective glasses, not buckling up a seatbelt, and sitting very close to the steering wheel.
What Types of Eye Injuries Do Airbags Cause?
As a result of airbag deployments, mild to severe eye injuries are likely to occur. These injuries include:
-
Corneal Abrasions:
During an airbag incident, the cornea (part of the eye that covers the iris and pupil) may be scratched, resulting in pain, discomfort, and sensitivity to sunlight.
-
Bruising:
A black eye can result from trauma caused by an airbag impact. It is possible for blood vessels under the skin to break, resulting in bruising. Ice packs may be all that is needed to treat a black eye, but a doctor should still be consulted.
-
Orbital Fracture:
When the eye socket is hit with an airbag, the surrounding bone can be fractured. An orbital fracture that is more severe may hamper eye movement and need surgery.
-
Burns:
Injuries to the eyes are among the most common following the deployment of an airbag. Airbags cause burns when the propellant is used to inflate them.
-
Detached Retina:
Retinas are sensory membranes composed of light-sensitive layers of nerve tissue at the back of the eye, which receive and transmit images to the brain through the optic nerve. The retina can tear and detach from the skull if an airbag injury occurs. This can damage one’s vision permanently unless properly treated.
If airbag deployment has caused eye injuries in a traffic crash that has been caused by someone else, you may be able to claim compensation for your losses.
How to Manage An Airbag Eye Injury:
In most cases, eye injuries heal on their own and do not significantly affect vision. However, there may be severe complications. A greater percentage of eye injuries occur to anterior structures than to posterior segments. Due to the involvement of the optic nerve or retina, posterior segment trauma generally causes more visual damage.
If you notice inflammation in the eye after airbag deployment, you should rinse the eyes with an alkaline solution to remove any foreign matter.
Call Us for a Personal Injury Claim in Georgia:
Our firm can help victims and their families who have been hurt by an airbag deployment accident with their personal injury claim in Georgia. We always protect the rights of our clients to prevent them from being harmed in a personal injury claim in Georgia.
