Fatal penetrating neck injury due to defective airbag inflator

Jothee, Shatishraj; Shafie, Mohamed Swarhib; Nor, Faridah Mohd

doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2018.08.038

Cited by 8 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…The improper application of force in deployment due to the difference in position has led to more atlanto-occipital, cervical and thoracic spinal fractures which is further complicated by increasing age with its associated physical vulnerabilities. 4,7 Hoye also suggested that women are at higher risk given that they are generally of shorter stature and thus sit closer to the steering wheel and dashboard. 3…”

Section: Mechanisms Of Injurymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The crash itself was not considered to have been capable of causing serious injury, and so the fatality was exclusively the result of airbag malfunction. 4 This case has been inquested and is part of a global recall of Takata airbags. 9,10…”

Section: Defective Airbagsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These injuries often occur in the head and neck region as well as to the upper limbs, and include facial fractures, lacerations, contusions, otologic injury such as tympanic membrane rupture and ocular injuries such as a ruptured globes and retinal haemorrhage. 4,7 The pattern of injuries has changed with each generation of airbag, with occupants being less likely to sustain facial or cranio-cerebral trauma from third-generation devices. 3,12 Injuries can also be caused by chemical burns from corrosive substances and by thermal burns from contact with airbag exhaust vents.…”

Section: Non-lethal Injuriesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…3 Critically, the time between crash and occupant impact with internal structures is brief, and prior to airbag implementation, occupants would collide with extreme force into the dashboard, windshield and steering wheel, often resulting in severe head and chest injuries. 4 Airbags have decreased the severity of head injury during frontal collisions. 5 Side airbags are more commonly used in combination with front airbags, and they deploy from either the side pillar or the outer occupant seat.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Injuries, death and vehicle airbag deployment

et al. 2020

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Airbags are impact-activated safety devices which deploy from the interior of vehicles to protect occupants from trauma during crashes. Although airbags effectively reduce the risk of death and injury, this it is not without issues. For example, high-impact unbelted rigid-barrier testing in the USA led to the adoption of powerful, large airbags that were associated with numerous airbag-related deaths and injuries. In contrast, European designs were tested and certified in conjunction with the use of three-point restraint systems, meaning that the airbags could be smaller with reduced ‘punch-out’ power. An overview is provided of the mechanism of action of airbags and the associated non-lethal and lethal injuries that may be sustained by vehicle occupants.

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Section: Mechanisms Of Injurymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Defective Airbagsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Non-lethal Injuriesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Injuries, death and vehicle airbag deployment

et al. 2020

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“…Some earlier researches have demonstrated that airbag systems, if properly designed, with the association of other safety systems such as passenger seat belts, can reduce up to 67% of mortality incidents [2]. On the other hand, there are numerous previously reported incidents of human death due to malfunctioning of airbags supplied by various manufacturers, in the past decade [3,4]. In this report, we present an interesting case in which a 33-year-old man died at the scene immediately after his motor vehicle impinged the roadside curbstone.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fatal automobile accident due to airbag misdeployment

Albalooshi¹,

Sherif²,

Alzarooni³

et al. 2020

Int J Legal Med

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The purpose of this case report was to demonstrate a fatal motor vehicle accident in which a 33-year-old man died at the scene immediately after his car collided with the roadside curbstone at a normal speed. The autopsy of the deceased body revealed a penetrating injury on the neck as he was struck by the deployed airbag. Pathological examination showed the offending material to be a fractured cylinder-shaped metal piece, which had settled within the fourth cervical vertebral body. Further forensic engineering investigation of the airbag unit found that the metal fragment originated from a defective airbag gas generator, which had exploded upon deployment. These findings reflect on the increasing popularity of airbag-associated trauma across the globe in recent years. We suggest an effective management plan for the evaluation and mitigation of the complications associated with airbag-related incidents.

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