Airbags save lives, but they do not always leave you unscathed. In a Texas auto accident, a properly functioning airbag can prevent lethal head or chest trauma and still leave behind burns, fractures, and hearing loss that derail work and family life for months. I have heard countless clients say a version of the same line after a wreck: the airbag helped me, but it also hurt me. Both can be true. The key is recognizing what is normal, what signals a bigger problem, and how to protect your health and your case under Texas law.
This guide walks through the medical and legal terrain of airbag injuries with practical detail. If you need direction, lean on experienced professionals early, whether that is your treating physician or a Texas Car Accident Lawyer who knows the local courts, adjusters, and medical providers. The decisions you make in the first week can shape both your recovery and your compensation.
The split second that matters: how airbags work and why injuries happen
An airbag inflates in roughly 30 to 50 milliseconds. That burst comes from a chemical reaction that generates gas, filling the bag with extraordinary speed. The fabric is designed to vent as you impact it, absorbing energy that would otherwise hit your skull, chest, and pelvis. That lifesaving energy transfer also creates forces that cause injuries of their own.
The most common mechanisms are straightforward. The explosive inflation can scrape or burn skin with high-temperature gases or pigments released from the bag. The bag can slam into glasses, a phone, or a hand you reflexively throw up, turning them into projectiles against your face. The head and torso decelerate into the cushion hard enough to bruise ribs or strain neck ligaments, especially if the occupant is short, sitting too close, or turned sideways at impact. Friction with the fabric can abrade the cornea. The bang itself can be louder than a firearm discharge, enough to leave ringing or a ruptured eardrum.
In other words, a working airbag often trades catastrophic head trauma for moderate, sometimes serious bodily injuries. When you are assessing your condition after a Texas Auto Accident, start with that trade. If the airbag fired, do not assume the pain is minor or that you got lucky. You may have avoided the worst, but you still need a clear plan to treat what happened.
Airbag injuries you can expect to see, and the ones you should not ignore
Patterns matter. Doctors and lawyers both look for mechanics of injury that match the physics of the crash. These are the injuries that routinely appear after frontal and side curtain deployments in a Texas Car Accident, along with the warning signs that suggest a deeper issue.
Facial and eye injuries. Abrasions along the cheekbones, forehead, and nose are common. Eyelid swelling and corneal abrasions often present with light sensitivity or a gritty sensation. If vision blurs, if double vision appears, or if you see cobweb-like floaters after a side curtain deployment, get urgent evaluation. Retinal tears may not be painful at first and can worsen overnight.
Upper extremity fractures and wrist sprains. Drivers often brace at the wheel. When the bag deploys, the hands can hyperextend, leading to scaphoid fractures in the wrist or small fractures in the metacarpals. Numbness in the thumb and index finger can indicate median nerve involvement. These injuries are notorious for being missed on day-one X-rays and showing up on repeat films or MRI later.
Chest wall injury. The airbag and belt together can bruise or fracture ribs. Pain with deep breath is the clue. If you feel short of breath, develop a cough with blood, or notice significant chest pain that worsens, get checked for a pneumothorax or pulmonary contusion, especially after high-speed collisions on Texas highways where the kinetic energy is Car Accident Lawyer higher.
Neck and shoulder trauma. Whiplash is not a throwaway term. Ligaments and facet joints can be strained, and muscles like the trapezius can be in spasm for weeks. Airbag impact does not prevent these soft tissue injuries, it shifts how they manifest. If pain radiates into the shoulder or down the arm with numbness or tingling, ask for a focused nerve exam and, if symptoms persist, advanced imaging.
Burns and chemical irritation. Powder and gases released during deployment can cause superficial burns on the forearms and face. Treat them with cool water and prompt medical care. If you have asthma or reactive airway disease, the chemical irritants can provoke bronchospasm. Wheezing after deployment is not uncommon and should be treated early.
Hearing loss and tinnitus. Deployment volumes can exceed 150 decibels. Many people notice ringing in the ears for days. Persistent tinnitus or muffled hearing after a Texas Auto Accident warrants audiology testing. A perforated eardrum is painful, but subtle sensorineural loss may only be detected through formal testing.
Abdominal injuries. Less common but more dangerous, particularly in shorter drivers seated close to the wheel. Airbag deployment combined with belt loading can injure solid organs. If you develop escalating abdominal pain, distention, vomiting, or fainting, do not wait. Imaging can catch liver or spleen injury that was not obvious at first.
Traumatic brain injury. Even with an airbag, your brain can move inside the skull. Headache, fogginess, irritability, light or sound sensitivity, and sleep disturbance suggest concussion. These symptoms frequently get brushed off in the adrenaline of the moment, then hit hard once the dust settles. Document them early.
First 24 hours: what smart triage looks like in Texas
Texas roads see a wide range of impact speeds, from stop-and-go fender benders in Houston to high-speed collisions on I-35 or I-10. Velocity matters. So does how you respond in the first day.
Seek medical care the same day if the airbag deployed. Even if you walked away, get an evaluation at an ER or urgent care. Tell the provider clearly that an airbag deployed. That single line helps them look for burns, corneal abrasion, eardrum injury, rib fractures, and concussion signs. It also creates accurate, contemporaneous documentation that insurance carriers and juries respect.
Do not rub your eyes after exposure to powder or fumes. Irrigate with sterile saline if available, or clean water if not, and request an eye exam with fluorescein staining. A small scratch at 3 p.m. can become a miserable infection by the next morning if ignored.
Photograph visible injuries. Take clear, time-stamped photos of facial abrasions, seat belt marks, bruising, and burns. These fade quickly and are often the most persuasive evidence later when an adjuster argues the crash looked minor.
Keep the airbag deployment recorded in the police report. If the reporting officer does not document it, ask politely that the report reflect the deployment. It may also help later if a Texas Auto Accident Lawyer seeks event data recorder information from the vehicle.
Avoid self-diagnosing with online advice. It is tempting to chalk chest pain up to bruising. Do not. Have a clinician listen to breath sounds and, if symptoms warrant, order an X-ray. Small pneumothoraces occur more often than people think and require monitoring.
Medical care that pays off long term
With airbag injuries, thorough early care reduces complications and builds a clean record for a Texas Injury Lawyer to present. I have watched claims rise or fall based on whether key diagnoses were made in the first two weeks. These are the care pathways that tend to serve people well.
Let emergency providers set the initial scope. ER clinicians will rule out life threats and identify immediate needs. After that, coordinate follow-up with your primary care doctor or a physiatrist. Soft tissue injuries often peak 48 to 72 hours post-crash. Reassessment at that point captures the fuller picture.
Listen to the body part that will not quiet down. If the wrist keeps you up at night a week later, pursue dedicated imaging. If a concussion leaves you foggy at work, ask for a referral to a neurologist or concussion clinic. Insurance carriers sometimes downplay these referrals as unnecessary. A precise diagnosis is not a luxury, it is the roadmap for recovery.
Rehabilitation matters. Physical therapy for cervical and thoracic strains is more than stretching. Good therapists retrain posture, strengthen scapular stabilizers, and restore joint mechanics altered by the crash. For many, 6 to 12 weeks of structured therapy shortens total recovery time and reduces flare-ups.
Treat burns and abrasions with the same seriousness you would give a laceration. Airbag-related burns are usually superficial, but facial skin is unforgiving. Timely wound care, follow-up to monitor infection, and, if scarring develops, referral to dermatology can make a real difference. Scars are compensable damages, especially on the face.
Document the arc of symptoms. Keep a simple, daily log of pain levels, sleep, missed work, and activities you skip because of symptoms. Juries respond to a story told in honest, dated entries far more than a vague statement months later about how bad it was.
The legal overlay: preserving your rights under Texas law
Texas is a fault-based state. That means the person who negligently caused the crash is responsible for your damages. Airbag injuries fit within this system like any other bodily injury, but there are nuances that experienced counsel pay attention to.
Comparative negligence. Texas applies proportionate responsibility. If you are 20 percent at fault, your damages are reduced by that percentage. If you are more than 50 percent at fault, you recover nothing. Defense lawyers sometimes argue that the occupant’s seating position or failure to wear a seat belt made airbag injuries worse. These arguments can be answered with sound medical testimony and clarity about the crash mechanics.
Product issues. Most airbag injuries are part of normal, foreseeable deployment. Occasionally, a malfunction or defect contributes to harm. If you suspect abnormal deployment, extreme burns, unexpected fragments, or non-deployment in a crash that should have triggered airbags, tell your Texas Auto Accident Lawyer immediately. Vehicle preservation becomes critical. Do not authorize destruction or sale of the vehicle until an expert inspects it.
Damages categories. Airbag injuries often cross economic and non-economic lines: ER bills, imaging, therapy, lost wages, and also pain, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life. Scars, tinnitus, and concussion-related cognitive effects carry significant non-economic value in front of a Texas jury when documented and explained.
Insurance dynamics. Texas drivers commonly carry 30/60/25 liability limits. In a multi-injury crash or with serious injuries, those limits can exhaust quickly. Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage on your own policy becomes essential. Airbag deployment is a helpful marker when convincing your UM/UIM carrier of the crash severity, but they will still demand clean, consistent medical proof.
Venue and jury expectations. Urban counties like Harris, Dallas, or Travis often see different jury attitudes than rural venues. A Texas MVA Lawyer who tries cases in your county will calibrate strategy accordingly, from how to present photographs of airbag burns to which experts to call for a concussion claim.
Working with the right professionals
Choosing help after a Texas Auto Accident is not about billboards or slogans. It is about fit and competence.
When you talk to a Texas Accident Lawyer, ask how they handle airbag injury claims specifically. Do they know which local ophthalmologists run same-week corneal exams? Can they walk you through how to handle a suspected tympanic membrane perforation? Have they secured event data recorder downloads before the vehicle was salvaged?
On the medical side, be forthright. Tell your providers everything, including old injuries. In Texas, defense counsel can obtain prior records. If an adjuster later argues that your wrist pain was preexisting, your treating physician will be your best witness if the chart shows a clean line from no wrist issues before to an identifiable scaphoid fracture after.
Communication between your legal team and your doctors matters. Lawyers should request narrative reports that explain causation in plain English. A line like the following carries weight: based on the mechanism of injury, timing of symptoms, and exam findings, it is more likely than not that the airbag deployment contributed to the patient’s corneal abrasion and tinnitus. Clear language beats jargon.
Mistakes that quietly cost people money and recovery time
I see the same avoidable errors over and over, particularly when the injuries look modest at first glance.
People stop treating too soon. When symptoms improve by half, therapy feels optional. Then flare-ups become the new normal, and the record will show gaps in care. Adjusters call those gaps proof of recovery. Finish the plan.
They downplay tinnitus or cognitive fog. A ringing ear or trouble focusing can be the most disruptive part of life after a crash. Early audiology or neurocognitive testing provides objective anchors for what otherwise sounds subjective and easy to dismiss.
They fail to document scarring. A faint line across the cheek may become light-sensitive hyperpigmentation six months later. Dermatology can help, and photography over time shows the change. Non-economic damages hinge on these details.
They authorize total loss disposal before inspection. Once a car is gone, defective airbag claims evaporate. Even in non-defect cases, vehicle photographs and module data can counter arguments that the crash was minor.
They give recorded statements without context. You are not required to give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer. People often minimize pain on day two, then look inconsistent when they later describe the full arc of symptoms. Get advice first. A Texas Auto Accident Lawyer can prepare you for questions or handle communications entirely.
How to handle the claims process without losing your mind
Insurance claims are part logistics, part stamina. Airbag injuries complicate them because they can look minor while inflicting real impairment.
Start your claim early, but do not rush settlement. Notify your insurer and the at-fault carrier within days. Provide the basics: date, location, parties, vehicle information, and that the airbag deployed. Hold back on medical details until you have a handle on diagnoses. Settling within the first month often undervalues a concussion or a fracture that was hard to see on the first X-ray.
Track every out-of-pocket cost. Co-pays, prescription receipts, saline and eye ointments, bandages, parking for medical visits, and mileage to physical therapy all count. In a typical mid-level airbag injury claim, these small numbers add up to hundreds or even thousands of dollars that people forget to include.
Coordinate health insurance and subrogation early. If your health insurer pays your bills, they may have a right of reimbursement from your settlement. In Texas, negotiating that lien can keep more money in your pocket. Lawyers who know the terrain can often reduce the lien substantially, especially in cases with limited liability coverage.
Expect the independent medical exam request in disputed cases. Insurers sometimes send you to their doctor. Preparation and a complete record matter. IME doctors will look for inconsistencies and gaps. Bring a timeline of your care, stick to facts, and do not guess at answers you do not know.
Be realistic about timelines. Straightforward claims can resolve in a few months. Cases with concussions, scarring, or suspected product issues can take a year or more. The goal is a settlement that matches your actual recovery, not a fast check that leaves you paying for care out of pocket later.
Special considerations for children and older adults
Kids and seniors experience airbags differently. For children, improper seating position is a big risk. Children under 13 belong in the back seat. If a child in the front passenger seat took an airbag to the face, insist on pediatric evaluation, including eye and dental checks. Teeth fractures and subtle orbital injuries are easy to miss on a quick ER visit.
Older adults are more vulnerable to rib fractures and pneumothorax. Osteoporosis magnifies the force transfer from the bag to the bones. Cognitive symptoms in seniors after a crash can be mistaken for normal aging. Families should track changes in sleep, mood, and memory and push for proper neurocognitive screening.
In both groups, careful follow-up and conservative clearance back to sports, work, or driving protect long-term health.
When an airbag case becomes a product case
Most airbag injuries are part of expected risk, not a defect. Still, Texas has seen cases involving propellant problems, inflator ruptures, and sensor failures. If anything about the deployment seems off, preserve evidence. Photographs of the deployed bag, any fragments in the cabin, scorch patterns, or holes in the steering wheel hub help. Keep copies of recall notices. Your Texas Auto Accident Lawyer can coordinate with a product liability team to evaluate whether a separate claim is viable. These cases require engineers, testing protocols, and aggressive preservation letters to manufacturers and insurers. Without early steps, the window closes fast.
Healing and the road back to normal
Recovery after airbag injuries is rarely linear. People often feel 70 percent better by week two, then hit a plateau. Others feel fine physically but cannot shake the ringing in their ears or the headaches that make screens unbearable. Expect those curves. They are typical, and they do not make your experience less real.
If you drove in Texas long enough, you have watched careless lane changes and reckless speeds on the interstates become part of the landscape. You cannot control that, but you can control what you do after a crash. Get checked. Tell the full story of your symptoms. Photograph the injuries. Ask for targeted referrals. Keep a simple journal. And lean on professionals who have walked this road with others.
The difference between a frustrating, underpaid claim and a fully valued one is not luck. It is the quiet accumulation of good choices in the first days and weeks. When in doubt, call a seasoned Texas Auto Accident Lawyer or Texas Injury Lawyer, ask your questions, and make a plan.
A compact checklist to keep you on track
- Seek same-day medical evaluation and state clearly that the airbag deployed. Photograph burns, bruises, facial abrasions, and seat belt marks with timestamps. Ask for eye, ear, chest, and wrist assessments if you have related symptoms. Preserve the vehicle until counsel confirms no defect investigation is needed. Start a daily symptom and disruption log, and avoid early recorded statements to the other insurer.
Final thoughts on value, timing, and peace of mind
A well-handled airbag injury case respects two realities at once. First, the airbag did its job by preventing the worst. Second, it may have left you with injuries that matter, medically and legally. Texas law allows you to claim the full measure of your losses: the ER bills and therapy co-pays, the time off work, the ringing ear that makes quiet rooms feel loud, and the thin scar that reminds you of a bad day every time you shave or put on makeup.
None of this requires theatrics. It requires clarity and follow-through. If you find yourself overwhelmed, that is normal. Put a plan in place, ask for help where you need it, and let evidence do the heavy lifting. Whether you resolve the claim with an adjuster or in front of a jury, credibility is your strongest asset. Tell the truth, document what you can, and allow professionals to connect the dots.
If the path ahead includes counsel, look for someone who practices in this space day in and day out, a Texas Car Accident Lawyer who can translate mechanics into medicine, and medicine into a persuasive claim. If you recover well, that lawyer should celebrate with you. If recovery takes longer than expected, that lawyer should fight for the resources to see it through. Either way, you deserve care that matches what happened in those 50 milliseconds when the airbag exploded and changed your year.