Are eyeglasses and airbags to be added to your endless list of worries? When you buckle up and adjust your rearview mirror, the last thing you think about is whether your glasses could become dangerous during a car accident. However, the interaction between eyeglasses and airbags creates unique risks that many drivers never consider. While you shouldn’t lose any sleep over it, there is a little room for concern.
Eyeglasses and Airbags: How Airbag Deployment Affects Eyeglass Wearers
Modern airbags deploy at speeds reaching 200 miles per hour, creating tremendous pressure that can turn your protective eyewear into a hazard. When airbags inflate, they can cause several types of injuries to people wearing glasses:
Lens Shattering and Eye Trauma
The force from airbag deployment can shatter both glass and plastic lenses, sending fragments directly into your eyes. A documented case involved a 38-year-old driver whose glass lenses broke during airbag deployment, causing corneal laceration and requiring surgical repair. Even plastic lenses aren’t completely safe, as one accident victim lost her eye when plastic sunglasses shattered during a minor collision.
Frame-Related Injuries
Metal or plastic frames can bend, break, or be driven into facial tissue during airbag deployment. The edges of broken frames pose risks for cuts around the eye area, while intact frames can be pushed against the face with enough force to cause bruising or deeper injuries.
Chemical Burns from Airbag Dust
Airbags release chemical powders during deployment, including sodium hydroxide and sodium azide. When these chemicals contact your eyes directly or mix with broken lens fragments, they can cause chemical burns and severe eye irritation.
The Real Risk: What Studies Show About Eyeglasses and Airbags
Research reveals mixed findings about eyeglasses and airbag safety. A comprehensive Finnish study found that airbag-related eye injuries occurred in only 2.5% of cases, with severe injuries in just 0.4% of accidents. The study concluded that spectacle wearers were not at significantly higher risk than non-wearers for most airbag injuries.
However, medical case studies paint a different picture for specific injury types. Research published in the Journal of Trauma documented three serious cases where eyeglass wearers sustained vision-compromising damage during airbag deployment. All three patients experienced severe ocular trauma that required extensive medical treatment.
One study reviewing 89 cases of airbag-related eye injuries found that only 15 victims were wearing glasses, and none of the injuries resulted from shattered glass entering the eye. Yet another medical report documented the first case of corneal laceration caused specifically by shattered lens fragments during airbag deployment.
These conflicting findings suggest that while serious injuries are relatively rare, they can be devastating when they occur. The risk appears higher for people wearing traditional glass lenses compared to modern polycarbonate materials.
Legal Protection When Eyeglasses and Airbags Cause Injuries
Types of Compensation Available
Victims of eyeglasses and airbags injuries may recover damages for medical expenses, including emergency treatment, surgeries, and ongoing care. Lost wages compensation covers time missed from work due to injury and treatment. Pain and suffering damages address the physical discomfort and emotional impact of vision loss or facial scarring.
When Manufacturers May Be Liable
Sometimes airbag injuries result from defective design or manufacturing problems rather than the accident itself. The massive Takata airbag recall affected 67 million airbags and resulted in 24 deaths and over 400 injuries due to metal fragments being propelled during deployment. If your injury resulted from a defective airbag, the manufacturer could be held responsible regardless of who caused the original accident.
Call 407-846-2240 for a free consultation with an Orlando car accident attorney at the Martinez Manglardi personal injury law firm. Convenient locations throughout Central Florida, including Orlando, Kissimmee, Apopka, Palm Bay, Ocala, Haines City, and Davenport.
