The Hidden Risk of Airbags for Children After a Car Accident

No parent expects a safety feature to cause harm. When an airbag deploys during a crash, and a child is injured, the shock can feel overwhelming and confusing. Many families are left asking how this happened, whether it could have been prevented, and what steps they should take next. 

This article explains the risks airbags pose to children, the injuries that often follow, and what safety research has revealed about child airbag injuries. It also helps parents understand their options after an airbag injury and how a free consultation can help them decide what comes next.

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Quick Summary

• Airbags are designed to protect adults but can pose hidden dangers to children.
• Child airbag injuries often happen when children sit in the front passenger seat.
• Common injuries include brain, neck, and spinal trauma.
• Many of these injuries are preventable with proper rear seating and restraints.
• Understanding the risks can help parents protect their child’s safety and legal rights.

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Why Airbags Can Be Dangerous for Children

Airbags deploy with a powerful force. They inflate in a split second at speeds designed to protect adult drivers and passengers, not young children. 

Because children are smaller and often sit closer to the dashboard, especially when sitting in the front or front passenger seat, the same force can cause serious harm. 

Children face a higher risk because:

• Their neck and spine are still developing
• They sit closer to the dashboard
• They may be out of position at impact
• Airbags deploy even in lower-speed crashes

Even when a collision appears minor, the impact from an airbag can lead to significant injury. Many child airbag injuries happen when a child is placed in a seat in the front instead of rear seating, where the distance from the dashboard reduces the risk.

Common Injuries Caused by Airbag Deployment

Airbag deployment can result in a wide range of injuries to children. Some injuries are obvious right away, while others may take time to fully appear. Understanding common child airbag injuries helps parents recognize why careful medical evaluation is so important.

Injuries commonly linked to airbag deployment in children include:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Skull, facial, and jaw fractures
• Neck and spinal cord injuries
• Chest and abdominal injuries
• Eye injuries and vision loss

Head and spine injuries, in particular, can have lasting effects on a child’s health and development.

Recommended Reading: Common Airbag Injuries and Their Long-Term Effects

What Research Reveals About Airbag Risks to Children

The risks airbags pose to children have been documented for decades. Doctors and federal safety agencies, including the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, have found a clear pattern: airbags designed to protect adults can seriously injure children, especially those who ride in the front.

Early investigations dating back to 1995 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported fatal head injuries in infants placed in a rear-facing car seat in front of an active passenger side air bag.

Research has found:

• Infants were killed when front airbags deployed into rear-facing car seats
• Children suffered severe head and cervical spine injuries
• Many injuries occurred in crashes adults survived
• In many cases, proper seating in the back seat could have prevented the injury

Safety experts, including those at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, continue to advise that any child under 13 years should remain in rear seating and never in front of an active airbag.

For parents, this research helps explain how a safety device can cause harm and why seating position matters so much in cases involving child airbag injuries.

Which Children Are Most at Risk During Airbag Deployment?

Not all children face the same level of danger when an airbag deploys. Certain seating positions and restraint choices can greatly increase the risk of serious injury. Whether a child is properly restrained in a child safety seat, booster seat, or using a shoulder belt and seat belts makes a significant difference.

Children at higher risk include:

• Infants in a rear-facing car seat placed in the front seat
• Children under 13 riding in the front passenger seat
• Children not properly restrained
• Children leaning forward or sitting too close to the dashboard

Even newer vehicles with “advanced” airbags do not make front seating safe for children.

Side and Curtain Airbags: Safer, But Not Risk-Free for Children

Side air bags and curtain airbags are often seen as safer options for children. While they may reduce the risk of certain injuries, they are not designed specifically for young passengers. In some crashes, these airbags can still cause serious child airbag injuries.

These side and curtain airbags can still:

• Strike a child’s head or neck
• Cause injury during rollovers
• Injure children seated too close to doors
• Affect children in improperly installed car seats

No airbag eliminates risk for child passengers.

Safety Warnings Parents Often Don’t Hear

Many parents believe they are doing everything right when it comes to car safety. What they are rarely told is how serious the risks from airbags can be for children placed in the front seat. These warnings are often easy to miss until after an injury occurs.

Key safety guidance includes:

• Children under 13 should ride in the back seat
• Rear-facing car seats should never be placed in front of an active airbag
• Airbags do not replace proper child restraints
• Proper use of a child restraint system, booster seat, and seat belts reduces the risk of serious injury

Guidance from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has remained consistent for years, yet child airbag injuries still occur.

What Parents Should Do After an Airbag Injury

Early decisions matter. What you do after the crash can affect both your child’s recovery and their legal rights.

Important steps include:

1. Get medical care right away, even if injuries seem minor
2. Follow up with pediatric or neurological specialists
3. Keep all medical records and test results
4. Take photos of the airbag, dashboard, and vehicle interior
5. Avoid signing insurance releases involving a minor

Insurance companies may push for quick resolutions that do not account for future care.

Liability and Legal Protections in Child Airbag Cases

Cases involving child airbag injuries are often more complex than they first appear. More than one party may be responsible, and California law provides special protections to safeguard a child’s future.

Liability may involve:

• A negligent driver who caused the crash
• A vehicle or airbag manufacturer
• A child car seat manufacturer
• Multiple insurance policies
• Special legal rules that protect minors, including court approval of settlements and extended filing deadlines

Even if a parent worries they made a mistake, such as allowing a child to sit in the front seat, that does not mean the child loses the right to compensation.

In California, the statute of limitations for most personal injury claims involving minors is generally paused until the child turns 18. In many cases, this means the child has until age 20 to file a lawsuit. However, waiting too long can make it harder to gather evidence and protect your child’s long-term needs.

When to Speak With a California Child Injury Attorney

When a child is injured by an airbag, parents are often left with more questions than answers. Medical care comes first, but legal guidance can help you understand what happened and what options are available to protect your child’s future. You do not need to have everything figured out before reaching out.

Our experienced California child injury attorneys can help by:

• Investigating why the airbag deployed and whether it functioned as it should
• Identifying all responsible parties, including drivers, manufacturers, or insurers
• Preserving time-sensitive evidence before it is lost or destroyed
• Making sure your child’s long-term medical, educational, and developmental needs are fully considered

A free consultation can provide clarity during an overwhelming time and help you decide what steps make sense next, without pressure or obligation.

Understanding Your Options After a Child Airbag Injury

No parent expects a safety feature to cause harm. When a child is injured by an airbag, the experience can feel overwhelming and unfair. Taking time to understand what happened—and what options exist—can help you move forward with clarity.

If your child was injured in an airbag deployment anywhere in California, a free consultation with the skilled California accident lawyers at El Dabe Ritter Trial Lawyers can help you understand your options and decide what steps make sense next.

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