Can an Airbag Cause Serious Injuries in a Car Accident?

Yes. An airbag can cause serious injuries during a car accident, including burns, facial injuries, eye trauma, chest injuries, and injuries to the hands, wrists, and arms.

That does not mean airbags are unsafe or that you would have been better off without one. Airbags are designed to reduce the risk of severe head and upper-body injuries by preventing occupants from striking the steering wheel, dashboard, windshield, or other hard surfaces. They work with seat belts to protect you during a collision.

But an airbag has to inflate extremely quickly to do its job. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an airbag can inflate in less than 1/20th of a second. That rapid deployment creates substantial force.

For most people, that force is far less dangerous than striking the interior of the vehicle. In some crashes, however, the airbag itself can contribute to significant injuries.

Why Can an Airbag Hurt You?

An airbag does not slowly inflate like a balloon. Sensors detect a collision, and the restraint system rapidly deploys the airbag so it can be in position before your body moves farther forward.

That means two things are happening almost simultaneously.

Your body is moving because of the collision while the airbag is rapidly expanding toward you. The resulting contact can be forceful, particularly if you are sitting close to the steering wheel or dashboard when deployment begins.

NHTSA recommends that drivers maintain at least 10 inches between the center of the steering wheel airbag cover and their breastbone whenever possible. Drivers should move their seats back while still remaining able to comfortably reach the pedals.

Seat belts are also important. Airbags are supplemental restraints. They are designed to work with seat belts, not replace them.

We discuss the other side of the restraint system in Can a Seat Belt Cause Shoulder, Chest, or Rib Injuries?.

What Are the Most Common Airbag Injuries?

The injuries caused during airbag deployment can range from temporary soreness to significant trauma requiring specialized treatment.

Facial Injuries

Your face may come into direct contact with the deploying airbag.

That impact can cause swelling, cuts, bruising, a bloody nose, dental injuries, or injuries involving the bones around the face and eyes. A 2026 review of airbag-related facial trauma reported that orbital fractures, eye trauma, soft-tissue injuries, burns, and other facial injuries have been documented after deployment.

A facial injury deserves medical attention when there is significant swelling, difficulty seeing, jaw pain, severe headache, loss of consciousness, or other concerning symptoms.

Eye Injuries

Eye injuries are among the more concerning complications associated with airbag deployment.

Medical literature has documented corneal abrasions, bleeding inside the eye, retinal injuries, traumatic cataracts, and other forms of eye trauma. A systematic review of airbag-related burns also identified the eyes as one of the areas that can be affected by chemical or thermal injuries.

Seek prompt medical care if you develop blurred vision, double vision, severe eye pain, sensitivity to light, new spots or flashes in your vision, or loss of vision after an accident.

Do not assume an irritated or red eye is simply from dust released during airbag deployment.

Airbag Burns

Some people notice what looks like a burn or rash on their hands, arms, chest, neck, or face after the crash.

Airbag deployment can cause friction, thermal, and chemical burns. Research published in the Journal of Burn Care & Research found that the hands and upper extremities were particularly common locations for reported airbag burns.

Some burns may initially look minor. Redness, blistering, increasing pain, skin discoloration, or an injury near the eyes should be evaluated appropriately.

Take photographs as soon as you reasonably can. Burns and abrasions can change significantly as they heal, so photographs can help preserve what the injury looked like closer to the time of the accident.

Hand, Wrist, and Arm Injuries

Drivers often have their hands on the steering wheel when the driver’s airbag deploys.

The combination of the collision, movement of the steering wheel, and airbag deployment can injure the fingers, hands, wrists, forearms, elbows, or shoulders. Possible injuries include bruising, sprains, cuts, fractures, and nerve symptoms.

If you develop numbness, tingling, burning, weakness, or pain traveling through your arm or hand, read our guide to numbness and tingling after a car accident.

Chest and Rib Injuries

Airbag contact can also cause substantial soreness or bruising across the chest.

Chest pain after an accident should not automatically be blamed on the airbag. A collision can expose your chest to forces from the airbag, seat belt, steering wheel, and sudden movement of your body.

That distinction matters because chest pain can represent anything from superficial bruising to a rib injury or other trauma that requires medical evaluation.

Shortness of breath, increasing chest pain, fainting, coughing up blood, or difficulty taking a deep breath should receive prompt medical attention.

What If the Airbag Injured Me but Probably Saved My Life?

Both things can be true.

An airbag may prevent your head from striking the windshield while still causing a burn across your forearm. It might protect you from catastrophic chest trauma while contributing to facial bruising.

This is why we do not think an airbag injury should be dismissed simply because the safety system did what it was designed to do.

The better question is not, “Was the airbag good or bad?”

The better question is, “What injuries did this collision cause, and what does the medical evidence show?”

If you have significant symptoms even though the vehicle does not appear badly damaged, read What If My Car Has Little Damage but I Am Seriously Injured?.

A Practical Example: The Burn That Appears Minor at the Scene

Consider a driver involved in a front-end collision.

The airbag deploys, and she gets out of the vehicle with red marks on her forearm and soreness across her chest. At the scene, she believes the marks are simply from the airbag rubbing against her skin.

That evening, the arm becomes increasingly painful. By the next morning, part of the area has blistered, and she also notices significant swelling in her wrist.

She seeks medical care and explains exactly what happened, including where her hands were positioned when the airbag deployed. The provider evaluates both the burn and the wrist injury.

She also photographs the injury over several days.

This example illustrates why it can be a mistake to focus only on what an injury looks like immediately after a crash. Some symptoms become clearer after the initial shock and adrenaline wear off. Learn more in How Long After a Car Accident Can Injuries Appear?.

Does an Airbag Injury Mean the Airbag Was Defective?

Not necessarily.

A properly functioning airbag can cause an injury simply because of the speed and force required for deployment.

A potential defect is a different issue.

Questions may arise if an airbag deployed when it apparently should not have, failed to deploy during a serious collision, ruptured, released fragments, or otherwise appeared to malfunction.

These situations can become more complicated because the vehicle itself may contain important evidence. Downloading vehicle data, inspecting the restraint system, researching recalls, examining damaged components, and obtaining expert analysis may become relevant.

If you seriously suspect a defective airbag, avoid allowing the vehicle or damaged components to be destroyed before you have an opportunity to obtain legal advice.

What Should You Do After an Airbag Injury?

Your health should come first.

Tell the healthcare provider that the airbag deployed and describe where it contacted your body. Mention every new symptom rather than focusing only on the most painful injury.

Take photographs of burns, bruising, swelling, cuts, and facial injuries. Continue taking photographs if the appearance changes.

Also keep your discharge instructions, bills, prescriptions, work restrictions, and follow-up records.

If you were evaluated at an emergency room but continue to experience substantial symptoms, an ER discharge does not necessarily mean every possible injury has been identified. Read What If the Hospital Says I Am Fine but I Still Have Pain After a Car Accident?.

Can an Airbag Injury Be Part of an Arizona Car Accident Claim?

Yes, depending on the circumstances.

If another driver’s negligence caused the collision, injuries associated with airbag deployment may be part of the damages resulting from the accident. The fact that a safety device was involved does not automatically make the injury unrelated to the crash.

The important issues usually include how the accident happened, what injuries were diagnosed, what treatment was necessary, whether the injuries affected your ability to work or perform normal activities, and what evidence connects those losses to the collision.

Arizona generally gives an injured person two years to file a personal injury lawsuit under Arizona Revised Statutes Section 12-542, although some claims have different or much shorter deadlines.

Talk With an Arizona Car Accident Attorney About a Serious Airbag Injury

Airbags are designed to protect you, but they can still cause significant injuries during the violent forces of a collision.

Do not dismiss burns, eye problems, hand injuries, chest pain, facial injuries, or other symptoms simply because they came from an airbag. Get appropriate medical care and make sure your symptoms are accurately documented.

If another driver’s negligence caused the crash, Perez Law Group, PLLC can review the collision, your medical records, insurance coverage, and the effect the injuries have had on your life. If there are legitimate concerns about how the airbag performed, we can also help determine whether additional investigation may be appropriate.

Learn more about working with a Glendale car accident attorney or contact Perez Law Group for a free consultation.

Call (602) 730-7100. Hablamos Español.

This article provides general information and is not legal or medical advice. Every injury and legal claim depends on its specific facts.