In 1989, airbags became mandatory in all new vehicles, and these days it’s hard to imagine life without them. They offer drivers and passengers an extra layer of protection in a car accident, and even with airbag recalls, most people feel more secure in a car with front and side airbags than those without. If you’re injured in a car accident, with or without airbags, talk to a Los Angeles car accident attorney.
No Airbags
Airbags did not become mandatory in vehicles until around 30 years ago. Those driving older-model or antique cars often find themselves driving a vehicle that doesn’t have airbags unless they install them themselves. If your vehicle was manufactured before 1989, it’s not illegal to drive without airbags, so is it worth it to install them in case of a crash?
Using airbags can decrease the forces and momentum in a car crash. With them, a driver’s head will hit the airbag rather than parts of the vehicle during an accident. By hitting the airbag, the air is pushed out and your head is protected from impact.
When there is no airbag, blunt force trauma injuries are more likely to happen. For example, when airbags fail to deploy during a serious accident, vehicle occupants often suffer from severe or fatal head injuries and other bodily trauma that may be life-shattering or deadly.
How Do You Seek Compensation
You should know that you can seek compensation for your losses in an accident, whether or not you have airbags installed in the vehicle. As long as the other driver was at fault, you can file a car accident claim and try to recover money for damages including hospitalization costs and other medical expenses, rehabilitative therapy expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Your Los Angeles car accident attorney can guide you through the process and offer an objective evaluation of how much money you may be eligible for.
Whether there are airbags or not, it’s important to gather as much evidence as possible towards your car accident claim. This includes taking photos of the vehicles, getting contact information for any witnesses, filing a police report, and getting prompt medical attention. After you have this information, your next step is to call an attorney at JML Law who can help you communicate with defense attorneys and insurance companies, and file the correct paperwork within time restrictions so you can get the money you need to cover medical treatment and care.
As a Los Angeles car accident attorney, we work on a contingency fee basis, which means we only get paid if we win your claim. It’s important to obtain a skilled advocate who can help you understand and protect your legal rights and best interests. Car accidents are traumatic and complex events that may result in severe injuries and disabilities that can last a lifetime. Whether or not your vehicle had an airbag, you can sue for compensation to cover your losses and damages.
If you’ve been seriously injured in an automobile accident in Los Angeles, the lawyers at JML Law want to help. We represent victims in a variety of personal injury matters, including insurance adjusting disputes and long-term disability claims related to your car accident claim. Call us at 818-610-8800 for a free initial consultation to discuss your case and get you back on the road to recovery.
