Anatomy of a Side-Impact Airbag (SAB)
Side-impact airbags (SABs) are inflatable devices that are specifically designed to protect the head and chest of a vehicle occupant in the event of a side-impact collision. There are three main types of SABs: 1) chest or torso, 2) head SABs, or 3) the head and chest combination, otherwise known as the “combo.”
The chest or torso SABs are mounted in the side of the vehicle’s seat or inside the door areas and are designed to provide protection for the chest in the event of a serious side-impact collision. The head SABs are frequently mounted above the side windows and are designed to protect the head in a side-impact collision. There are two types of head SABs, the curtain and tubular. Curtain SUBs are designed to protect the front and rear occupants in the event of a side-impact collision, while some of them provide protection from ejection after a vehicle has been struck on its side. The head and chest “combo” SAB is typically mounted in the side of the seat and are generally larger than chest SABs. Combo SAVs protect both the head and chest, thus drastically reducing the risk of brain injuries.
Side-impact airbags inflate in less than a second and they are designed to protect your head and chest from being struck by objects outside and inside of the vehicle in serious side-impact collisions. These SABs are controlled by sensors and unlike frontal airbags, a number of curtain SABs remain inflated for several seconds during the collision in order to provide additional protection in the event a rollover occurs.
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$125,000 $125k for a Middle Aged Woman Who Injured Her Elbow in a Car Accident
For a Middle-Aged Woman Who Injured Her Elbow in a Car Accident
Benefits of Side-Impact Airbags
Today, some vehicles on the market are equipped with both front and side airbags. Although frontal airbags have been standard in all passenger vehicles since 1998, and all vans, pickups, and SUV’s since 1999, side-impact airbags are now being offered as optional or standard equipment on a number of newer vehicles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that if all of the vehicles in the United States were equipped with side-impact airbags offering head protection, then 700 to 1,000 lives would be saved each year in side-impact crashes.
Unfortunately, unlike frontal airbags, side-impact airbags are not required by the NHTSA yet. However, with side-impact crashes taking approximately 10,000 lives each year, manufacturers are becoming increasingly aware of the necessity for SABs and legislation is expected to eventually standardize side-impact airbags in all vehicles, as they are with front airbags.
Due to the vast numbers of people that die in side-impact collisions each and every year, the manufacturers are aware of the importance of this safety feature, yet a number of vehicles are still produced without this life-saving feature. As a result of this failure, a large number of traumatic brain injuries continue to occur in foreseeable side-impact crashes, many of which are from young children who routinely sit in the rear of the vehicle.
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My attorney, David Van Sant and his law firm were outstanding in handling my personal injury case. I was out of work for a considerable amount of time due to an automobile accident and Mr. Van Sant and his entire team were always kind, professional, knowledgeable and especially available. This law firm did their absolute best to answer and return calls and at no time did I ever feel like just a number or stranger. My experience with Mr. Van Sant and his law firm (from beginning to end), were very positive as well as favorable.
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I had a head on collusion that left me with a totaled car & very bad injuries. From the first time I spoke to David Van Sant to the end I have been totally satisfied. I worked with Patricia she was very compassionate yet professional she was always ready to answer any concerns that I might have. I am grateful that my daughter found this law firm for me.
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Attorney David M. Van Sant is one of the best injury trial attorneys here in the Atlanta area. They are precise and unique in their approach. When I had my car accident, my whole world was turned upside down, but with Attorney Van Sant and his team of professionals dedication and quality of service, my life is back on track.
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According to the IIHS, safety equipment has become increasingly standard in 92 percent of 2011 models and 94 percent of SUV’s, and 56 percent of pickup trucks now come equipped with standard head and torso side airbags. When one considers the fact that lifesaving side-impact airbags have been available on the market since the early 2000’s, and yet they are only slowly being incorporated into motor vehicles, then it makes one wonder why auto manufacturers have failed to incorporate SABs when they can save lives, especially the lives of children riding in the rear of the vehicle.
The fact that this key safety measure has been avoided due to cost cutting measures is simply unacceptable, and many fatal head injuries have occurred and continue to occur in foreseeable side-impact collisions to this day which is absolutely unreasonable. If you or someone you love has been injured in a side-impact collision, then we urge you to contact an Alpharetta personal injury lawyer immediately for assistance.
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