En Español
Involvement in a side impact or T-Bone collision can result in serious injuries. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that 27 percent of deadly collisions in 2009 were T-Bone accidents. These collisions are likely to cause permanent or fatal harm because a side door panel provides little shield from force and cannot prevent intrusion of the vehicle from hitting your car.
Side airbags (SABs) are an important safety feature to protect your body from the force of a side impact crash and to keep your head and chest area from being hit, or striking objects. While side airbags save lives, an experienced car accident lawyer knows National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regulations on side airbags are almost non-existent.
NHTSA does not require the installation of side airbags in vehicles, although SaferCar.gov reports between 700 and 1,000 people killed in T-bone crashes each year could have survived if their cars had side airbags.
Without federal requirements, many vehicle manufacturers opt out of including side airbags to cut costs, inadvertently putting lives at risk. Standardizing the inclusion of side airbags could drastically reduce fatalities and severe injuries in side-impact collisions. Moreover, educating consumers about the importance of this safety feature and advocating for stricter regulations can push manufacturers toward prioritizing passenger protection. Increasing public awareness and regulatory pressure can drive meaningful changes in vehicle safety standards, ultimately saving countless lives on the road. Here are four key issues that highlight the need for better regulation:
Not only does NHTSA not mandate the installation of this important safety feature, but it also does not regulate the installation of SABs when vehicle manufacturers do include them. People who purchase cars with the belief they are buying a safe vehicle with side airbags may be surprised to find the airbags have not gone through testing protocols or have been required to meet the requirements of front airbags. This lack of regulation leaves consumers vulnerable, as they might falsely believe they are adequately protected during side-impact collisions when, in reality, the effectiveness of these airbags is unverified.
There are standards for side airbags, but they are voluntary and were not developed by NHTSA. Instead, a group of auto experts called the Technical Working Group (TWG) created guidelines, and not all car manufacturers follow them. Those shopping for vehicles who want to ensure their airbags follow guidelines will need to refer to either owner’s manuals or to lists of vehicle features to see if the TWG guidelines are denoted. On Safer Car, vehicles with side airbags meeting TWG guidelines are labeled with an “M.”
Determining whether airbags are certified is not the only consideration. There are different types of side airbags, including curtain and tubular side airbags. Some come out of the side doors of vehicles, while others descend from the roof above windows. Some are designed to protect passengers and drivers in both the front and rear of the vehicle, while others only have front-seat side airbags. Determining which will be most effective at keeping the head and neck safe in a crash is difficult without a lot of research into IIHS crash tests (and not every car goes through crash tests for side impact safety features).
Parents with kids also face the added concern of not knowing how side airbags are going to impact child safety. Before 1999, NHTSA advised parents not to have kids sit next to or lean on doors with side airbags but there is no current clear recommendation. NHTSA has studied side airbag deployment in accidents, but only six of the 92 collisions NHTSA looked at with deployed side airbags had children in the car. The possible safety risks for kids are not fully understood.
Additionally, the varying designs and deployment mechanisms of side airbags add to the uncertainty regarding their impact on children. Some airbags may deploy with significant force, posing a potential threat to smaller passengers. As modern vehicles increasingly incorporate advanced safety features, it becomes crucial for NHTSA to conduct comprehensive research and provide clear, updated guidelines. This will help parents make informed decisions about child passenger safety and ensure that all vehicle occupants, regardless of age, are adequately protected. Clearly, with T-bone accidents presenting such a major risk, NHTSA needs to do a better job in ensuring side airbags are providing proper protection.
At the Law Offices of Michael Gopin, PLLC, we understand the complexities and challenges faced by victims of T-bone accidents. Our dedicated team is committed to ensuring that you receive the compensation and justice you deserve. With years of experience and a deep understanding of car accident cases, we will diligently work to gather the necessary evidence, including credible witness testimonies, to build a strong case on your behalf. If you or a loved one has been injured in a T-bone collision, don’t navigate the legal process alone. Contact us today for a free consultation and let us provide you with the expert legal assistance you need to protect your rights and secure your future.
Michael J. Gopin has practiced law in El Paso since 1987. Even after more than 30 years, he still remembers his first jury case. It was two weeks after receiving his license, when he represented a person whose life had been forever changed after being blinded in a work-related incident...
We are experienced El Paso personal injury lawyers. Give us a call and you’ll be taken care of! (915) 333-3333
En Español