Mark Anderson | December 12, 2025 | Car Accidents
Airbags save thousands of lives every year, but they can also cause unexpected injuries, including airbag burns. These burns can be painful, long-lasting, and may require medical treatment or rehabilitation.
Understanding what causes these injuries, how to treat them, and the legal rights that exist under Texas law enables victims to make informed decisions after a motor vehicle collision.
How Airbags Cause Burns
Although airbags are designed to reduce the risk of severe injury during a car accident, their deployment is forceful and fast. Most airbags inflate within milliseconds. During this process, passengers can experience several types of burns:
1. Chemical Burns
Airbags deploy through a chemical reaction involving compounds such as sodium azide. When the reaction occurs, hot gases fill the airbag. Some of these gases may escape through vents, causing first- or second-degree chemical burns.
Victims suffering from one of these burns often report redness, peeling, blistering, and a burning sensation immediately after the crash.
2. Thermal Burns
Airbags and the gases within them can reach extreme temperatures upon deployment. Contact with the hot fabric or the gases released during deployment can result in thermal burns. These burns can appear similar to heat burns from stoves or open flames.
3. Friction Burns
The surface of an airbag rapidly rubs against the skin during deployment. This friction can cause abrasions, skin irritation, and painful friction burns on the face, arms, chest, and neck.
4. Combined Burns
Some victims may experience a combination of friction, thermal, and chemical burns. These mixed burns may require more intensive evaluation and treatment.
Common Symptoms of Airbag Burns
Airbag burns can vary from mild irritation to more serious injuries requiring medical care.
Common symptoms include:
- Redness or swelling
- Skin peeling
- Blistering
- Persistent pain or stinging
- Scarring or skin discoloration
- Increased sensitivity to sunlight
In more severe cases, burns can lead to infection, which may require antibiotics or wound care from a medical professional.
How Are Airbag Burns Typically Treated?
Proper treatment depends on the type and severity of the burn. Following a crash, victims should seek medical evaluation to rule out underlying trauma, such as fractures, concussions, or internal injuries.
Healthcare providers may recommend:
- Prescription burn creams or ointments
- Antibiotics to prevent infection
- Pain medication
- Specialized wound dressings
- Follow-up appointments to monitor healing
Severe burns may require referral to a dermatologist or burn specialist, especially if the victim is at risk of scarring or pigment changes.
Long-Term Complications from Airbag Burns
While many airbag burns heal within days or weeks, more serious injuries can lead to long-term complications such as:
- Noticeable scarring
- Hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation
- Skin sensitivity
- Nerve irritation
- Emotional distress related to visible scarring
These complications can play a significant role in a personal injury claim, as they may impact the victim’s quality of life and future medical needs.
Potential Legal Options After an Airbag Burn in Texas
Victims who suffer burns from airbags may have several potential legal avenues depending on how the accident occurred. Understanding these options helps accident victims make informed decisions about protecting their rights.
Negligence Claims Against the At-Fault Driver
Most airbag burn cases arise during motor vehicle collisions. Under Texas law, injury victims have the right to pursue compensation from the negligent driver who caused the crash. This includes damages for medical bills, pain and suffering, property damage, and lost wages.
Product Liability Claims for Defective Airbags
Some airbag burns are caused not by the crash itself, but by a defective airbag. Airbags that deploy too aggressively, fail to inflate properly, or release excessive chemicals may injure passengers. In such instances, the vehicle manufacturer or airbag manufacturer may be legally responsible in a product liability case.
Contact Our Dallas Car Accident Lawyers at Anderson Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Airbag burns can be painful, disruptive, and sometimes have lasting effects. Whether your injury resulted from another driver’s negligence or a defective airbag, understanding the available legal avenues helps ensure that individuals are aware of the protections and compensation options that Texas law provides.
If you’ve been injured in an accident in Fort Worth, Dallas, or Austin and need legal help, contact our car accident lawyers at Anderson Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation. We proudly serve Tarrant County, Dallas County, and throughout Texas.
Anderson Injury Lawyers – Fort Worth Office
1310 W El Paso St, Fort Worth, TX 76102
(817) 294-1900
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 32.74621197527774, -97.33552733508391
Anderson Injury Lawyers – Fort Worth Office (Secondary)
6618 Fossil Bluff Dr # 108, Fort Worth, TX 76137
(817) 631-4113
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 32.86241013538118, -97.30973893918065
Anderson Injury Lawyers – Dallas Office
408 W Eighth St Suite 202, Dallas, TX 75208
(214) 327-8000
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 32.748815542196404, -96.82524302658787
Anderson Injury Lawyers – Austin Office
811 Nueces Street, Austin TX, 78701
(512) 399-5000
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 30.307794623518102, -97.73755898409242