When airbag injuries impact your life, understanding your legal options becomes crucial for recovery. These injuries occur from defective safety equipment or improper deployment during accidents.
At Elliot Ifraimoff & Associates, PC, we can pair you with a car accident lawyer in Queens, NY, to help you navigate the complexities of personal injury claims. In this guide, we will explain everything you need to know about the injuries covered in personal injury law.
What Types of Accidents Does Personal Injury Law Cover?
Personal injury law encompasses various accident types that cause harm to individuals through negligence or intentional actions. Understanding these categories helps determine your legal options.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Vehicle accidents occur in numerous ways, from rear-end collisions to side-impact crashes. These accidents often involve multiple vehicles and can cause severe injuries to drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.
When vehicles collide, the force of impact triggers safety systems like airbags. Sometimes, these features work as intended, while other times, they may cause airbag injuries or fail to deploy properly.
Workplace Accidents
Workplace injuries range from repetitive stress conditions to catastrophic accidents involving heavy machinery. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2.8 million workplace injuries occurred in 2022, affecting workers across all industries.
Many workplace accidents are due to unsafe conditions, inadequate training, or equipment failure. Workers’ compensation covers many of these injuries, but additional personal injury claims may be possible depending on the circumstances.
Slip-and-Fall Injuries
Property owners must keep the premises safe for visitors and customers. Slip-and-fall accidents commonly involve wet floors, bad lighting, uneven grounds, or inadequate maintenance.
These accidents can cause serious injuries, particularly for elderly individuals. Many victims suffer broken bones, head injuries, or spinal damage that requires extensive medical treatment.
Animal Bites
Dog bites and animal attacks can cause severe physical and emotional trauma. These incidents often occur on private property or in public spaces where animals should be properly controlled.
Victims frequently require immediate medical attention to prevent infection and may need reconstructive surgery. The psychological impact of animal attacks can persist long after physical wounds heal.
Medical Malpractice
Healthcare providers must follow established standards of care when treating patients. When they deviate from these standards through negligence or error, serious injuries can occur.
Medical malpractice cases involve complex medical evidence and witness testimony. They may involve surgical errors, medication mistakes, misdiagnosis, or improper treatment plans.
Construction Site Accidents
Construction workers face daily hazards on job sites, including falls from heights, electrical accidents, and equipment malfunctions. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, one in five workplace deaths in 2021 occurred in the construction industry.
Injuries on construction sites often involve multiple parties, including contractors, subcontractors, and equipment manufacturers. To identify all responsible parties, these cases require careful investigation.
And More
Personal injury law goes beyond airbag injuries and workplace accidents, covering everything from defective products and toxic exposure to premises liability cases. Each type of accident presents unique challenges for proving liability and securing compensation.
These cases often involve complex legal and factual issues that require thorough investigation. Working with experienced legal counsel helps ensure the proper handling of your claim.
Does Personal Injury Law Cover Airbag Deployment Injuries?
Airbag injuries occur in two primary scenarios: defective airbag deployment and injuries from normal airbag deployment during collisions. One recall by a notable brand has injured hundreds and killed 27 people as the defective airbags sprayed metal fragments upon deployment, harming vehicle drivers and passengers.
You may pursue compensation if a faulty airbag deploys without impact, fails to deploy during a crash, or injures you during a crash involving another driver’s negligent actions.
Airbag deployment injuries can include the following:
- Burns and abrasions from the explosive deployment
- Facial injuries and dental trauma
- Eye injuries from impact or chemicals
- Chemical exposure from deployment substances
- Neck and spine injuries from deployment force
- Broken bones in the face or upper body
- Internal injuries from impact force
- Hearing damage from deployment sound
Vehicle manufacturers, third-party manufacturers, car retailers, and other drivers may be liable for airbag deployment injuries.
Can You Seek Compensation for All Bodily Injuries in a Personal Injury Case?
Personal injury law allows compensation claims for any injury that causes financial losses or impacts your quality of life. Whether you suffer minor soft tissue damage or catastrophic trauma from airbag injuries or other causes, you have the right to pursue compensation for your expenses and suffering. The compensation amount typically reflects several key factors:
- Medical treatment costs and future care needs
- Recovery time and rehabilitation expenses
- Impact on daily activities and lifestyle changes
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Physical pain and emotional distress
- Property damage and incidental expenses
- Long-term disability accommodations
Different types of injuries require different approaches to compensation. Minor injuries like bruising, muscle strains, and whiplash may seem less significant but can still cause substantial medical bills and lost work time.
Moderate injuries such as broken bones, herniated discs, and joint damage often require extended recovery periods and rehabilitation. Severe injuries, including traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage, or loss of limbs, typically necessitate lifetime care and support.
The evolving landscape of personal injury claims demonstrates that courts recognize the impact of all injury types on victims’ lives. Documentation plays a crucial role in injury claims, with medical records, bills, work absence notes, and daily pain journals helping establish your right to compensation.
Insurance companies often attempt to minimize seemingly minor injuries. However, even small injuries can develop into chronic conditions or require more extensive treatment than initially anticipated. Your right to compensation remains valid for any injury causing financial or personal impact, regardless of its initial severity.
How a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help You Seek Compensation for Your Injuries
Legal representation helps you seek fair consideration of all injury types in the compensation process. Personal injury attorneys understand how to effectively present evidence of your damages, whether your injuries are immediately visible or manifest over time. This comprehensive approach helps protect your rights.
A personal injury lawyer in Queens, NY, can evaluate your case details and build a strong claim for compensation.
Types of Damages You Can Recover
You can often seek compensation for the following losses in a personal injury claim:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
- Rehabilitation costs
- Long-term care needs
Take Action After Airbag Injuries With a Personal Injury Lawyer in Queens
Airbag injuries require immediate medical attention and legal guidance. We understand the challenges you face after experiencing these traumatic injuries. Our team at Elliot Ifraimoff & Associates, PC, helps victims understand things that qualify a personal injury claim.
With decades of experience serving Queens residents, we provide dedicated representation for injury victims. Call (718) 205-1010 to discuss your airbag injury case in Queens, New York, with Elliot Ifraimoff & Associates, PC.
Frequently Asked Questions About Airbag Injuries
How Long Do I Have To File an Airbag Injury Claim?
New York law allows three years from the date of injury to file a personal injury claim.
What Evidence Do I Need for an Airbag Injury Case?
Preserve medical records, accident reports, witness statements, and photographs of your injuries and the vehicle.
How Are Airbag Injury Claims Different From Other Car Accident Cases?
Airbag injury claims often involve product liability aspects alongside traditional accident liability considerations.
What Should I Do Immediately After Suffering an Airbag Injury?
Seek medical care immediately and document all airbag injuries through photos and medical records to support your compensation claim.