Airbag Deployment Investigations cont'd
Knowing Each System is Critical
Airbag systems are constructed within the design of the vehicle; they are not an add-on accessory.
They utilize the vehicle's steel construction, crumple zones, crash testing results and advanced electrical engineering to assist in protecting the occupants of the vehicle. There are multiple components used and placed strategically throughout the vehicle to accurately detect an impact and/or crash event.
Auto-Investigations' comprehensive examination of the vehicle includes systems data retrieval along with relevant accident reconstruction to determine the events that occurred for the incident in question.
The following dramatization indicates the potential for bodily harm during a side impact without an airbag deployment. The implementation of side seat airbags and curtain airbags are meant to reduce injuries from this type of impact.
However, since the introduction of side, knee, thorax, head, curtain and rear airbags, multiple sensors became a requirement to accurately detect the conditions that require airbag deployment and occupant protection. Since about 2005, some vehicles have as many as 18 deployable components...and the airbag count is still rising. Auto-Investigations understands these systems and the differences from one vehicle to another. Shown below are some of the components currently used in an airbag system:
Manufacturer Defects:
Hundreds of vehicles have had recalls issued for airbag defects and calibration issues. Not every owner has complied with the recall notifications. Many used car owners are unknowingly driving vehicles with recalls outstanding, putting themselves and their passengers at risk. Auto-Investigations will check to see if the investigated vehicle has been the subject of an airbag defect, recall or investigation through our network of North American databases (both in the United States and Canada).
Environmental Conditions:
Natural conditions and elements can trigger a deployment without a crash event. Water, salt, snow, rust and corrosion are natural elements and conditions that can adversely affect the firing circuits in many airbag control units, causing an accidental airbag deployment or an airbag system to fail. Physical inspection of vehicles is critical in determining whether environmental issues contributed to an airbag deployment failure. Auto-Investigations knows which components are most susceptible to environmental exposure.
Human Involvement:
We have found people create the circustances that cause airbags to deploy without proper cause, or not to deploy when necessary. Improper repairs, inadequate vehicle care and flood vehicles are common culprits. Installations of aftermarket products, like radios, DVD players or custom interior dash lights can also interfere with proper airbag deployment. A misplaced screw driven through a wiring harness, a pinched or shorted wire or a probe from a powered test light can all send power to the wrong circuit and cause an airbag to deploy instantly. Even shady car dealers or unlawful repairs can create the circumstances that lead to an accidental deployment. Auto-Investigations will research the subject vehicle for any and all potential pre-existing conditions.
Call now or send us an emailToll-free 866-294-0095
or
Airbag Information
- Airbag Basic Descriptions
- Injuries Associated with Airbag Deployment
(Journal of Emergency Medicine) - Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
- NHTSA Home Page
- 5 Star Rating System
- Airbag Safety Q & A's
American College of Emergency Physicians