The most common airbag injuries are chest and rib bruising, facial scrapes and bruises, eye irritation, wrist and hand sprains or fractures, friction and chemical burns, ringing in the ears, neck strain and concussion. Airbags save lives, but they inflate in a fraction of a second with real force. After a Jacksonville crash where the airbags deployed, get checked even if you feel mostly fine, and go to the ER right away for chest pain with trouble breathing, vision changes or signs of a head injury.
Key facts
- An airbag inflates in a fraction of a second, and most airbag injuries come from contact with the bag, the heat and residue it releases, or the crash forces around it.
- NHTSA recommends keeping at least 10 inches between the air bag cover and your breastbone.
- Florida PIP pays medical benefits only if you receive initial care within 14 days of the crash (F.S. 627.736).
- Only an MD, DO, PA, APRN or dentist can make the Emergency Medical Condition determination that opens the full PIP medical benefit; without it, medical benefits are limited to $2,500.
- In 2024, Duval County recorded 23,013 crashes and 15,480 injuries (FLHSMV, Traffic Crash Facts 2024).
Why Airbags Can Injure You
A frontal airbag has to fill the space between you and the steering wheel or dashboard almost instantly. The injuries it causes depend on how close you sit, where your hands are, whether you are belted, your size and bone health, and how hard the crash is. Side and curtain airbags can injure the side of the head, shoulder and arm.
Common Airbag Injuries
Chest and rib injuries
The bag and the seat belt load the chest at the same moment. That can bruise the chest wall, ribs or breastbone (sternum), and in harder crashes it can fracture them. Chest pain that is worse with a deep breath, coughing or twisting is common. Chest pain with shortness of breath, a racing heart or coughing blood needs emergency care, because the heart and lungs sit right behind the chest wall.
Facial and eye injuries
The face often meets the bag first. Abrasions on the cheeks, chin and forehead, a bruised or broken nose, split lips and facial swelling are common. The eyes can be scratched (a corneal abrasion) or irritated by the powder released from the bag. Eye pain, blurred vision, light sensitivity or a feeling that something is stuck in the eye should be checked by an ER or eye doctor promptly.
Wrist, hand and forearm injuries
Drivers usually have their hands on the wheel when the bag fires, so the wrists, thumbs, hands and forearms take a direct hit or are thrown backward. Sprains, bruising and fractures of the wrist or forearm bones are common. Swelling, a visible bend or deformity, numbness in the fingers or pain that stops you from gripping are reasons for an X-ray the same day.
Burns and abrasions
Two kinds of burns happen. Friction burns come from the fabric sliding fast across the skin of the forearms, face and chest. Heat and chemical burns come from the hot inflation and the residue released with it. Most are minor, but burns that blister widely, involve the face or eyes, or look infected need medical care.
Concussion
The airbag strikes the head and face, and the crash whips the head forward and back. Either can cause a concussion, even if you never lose consciousness. Headache, dizziness, nausea, blurred vision, trouble concentrating or feeling foggy in the hours and days after the crash are reasons to be evaluated. Our guide to how a traumatic brain injury is diagnosed explains what that evaluation involves.
Neck strain and whiplash
The same forces strain the muscles, ligaments and joints of the neck. Neck pain, stiffness and headache at the base of the skull often build over the first 24 to 72 hours. See our whiplash care page for how it is treated, and our whiplash recovery guide for how long it often lasts.
Hearing and breathing effects
Deployment is loud, and ringing or muffled hearing can follow; hearing that does not return should be checked. The powder can also trigger coughing or an asthma flare.
Warning Signs: Go to the ER or Call 911
- Chest pain with trouble breathing, a racing heart or coughing up blood
- Severe or worsening belly pain, or pain from the seat belt across the abdomen
- An obvious deformity of the wrist, arm or face, or bone showing through the skin
- Eye pain, vision loss or double vision
- A large, blistering or facial burn
- A headache that gets worse, repeated vomiting, confusion, unusual drowsiness, slurred speech, weakness or a seizure
- Numbness or weakness in the arms or legs
What to Do After a Jacksonville Crash With Airbag Deployment
Jacksonville drivers spend a lot of time on I-95, I-295, J. Turner Butler Blvd (JTB), SR 9A and Beach Blvd, where frontal and rear-end collisions are common. Duval County recorded 23,013 crashes and 15,480 injuries in 2024, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. If your airbags went off:
- Check for emergencies first. Call 911 for anyone with the warning signs above.
- Rinse off residue. Once you are safe, rinse your eyes and skin with clean water and get fresh air.
- Photograph visible injuries such as burns, bruises and scrapes, and write down every symptom, even small ones.
- Get evaluated within the first days. Chest wall, neck and concussion symptoms often build after the first night.
- Watch the 14-day PIP window. Under F.S. 627.736, PIP pays medical benefits only if you receive initial care within 14 days of the crash.
An ER or urgent care visit counts as initial care. The full PIP medical benefit also depends on an Emergency Medical Condition determination by an MD, DO, PA, APRN or dentist; a chiropractor cannot make that determination. Read more about Florida’s 14-day PIP rule, and talk to an attorney about questions on your claim.
Our guide to the PIP 14-day rule after a Jacksonville crash explains what counts as initial care and what to bring.
How Airbag Injuries Are Evaluated and Treated
At East Coast Injury Clinic, a medical provider examines your chest wall, wrists, neck and back and screens for concussion. When X-rays, a CT or an MRI are needed, we refer you to an outside imaging center or hospital and review the results with you.
Treatment depends on what is found. Our physical therapy team helps restore motion and strength in the neck, shoulders, chest wall and wrists as they heal. Our chiropractic team treats neck and back strain. Our concussion and vestibular rehabilitation specialists work on headache, dizziness and balance problems. Our car accident injury care page explains how these fit together under one roof.
We will also tell you what we do not treat. Burns that need wound care, eye injuries, displaced fractures and facial fractures belong with the ER, an eye doctor, an orthopedic surgeon or a facial specialist, and we will refer you. Recovery times vary with the injury, and no one can promise a timeline.
Reducing Airbag Injury Risk
NHTSA recommends keeping at least 10 inches between the air bag cover and your breastbone, sitting upright, and moving the seat back as far as you can while still reaching the pedals comfortably. Wear the lap and shoulder belt every trip, since airbags are designed to work with seat belts, and seat children under 13 in the back seat, as NHTSA advises.
Paying for Care After an Airbag Injury
After a car accident in Florida, your own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage is usually the first place your medical bills go, as long as your first care is within 14 days of the crash. If you have a personal injury attorney, we can treat under a Letter of Protection where that is the arrangement; your attorney can call our office to set it up. We also accept a limited number of private health plans. Our front desk verifies coverage before your first visit and explains what is and is not covered for your case.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common airbag injuries?
Common airbag injuries include chest and rib bruising, facial abrasions and bruising, eye irritation or injury, wrist, hand and forearm sprains or fractures, friction or chemical burns on the arms, face and chest, ringing in the ears, and neck strain. A concussion can also happen from the airbag or the crash itself.
How long does it take to heal from airbag injuries?
It depends on the injury. Minor abrasions and bruises often settle over days to a couple of weeks, while rib, wrist or facial fractures and concussions can take longer. Your provider can give you a realistic range once the injuries are identified.
Should I see a doctor after an airbag goes off if I feel fine?
It is a good idea. An airbag deploys in a crash forceful enough to trigger it, and chest wall injuries, neck strain and concussion symptoms can build over the next day or two. In Florida, PIP also requires initial care within 14 days of the crash.
Is the powder from an airbag harmful?
The powder and residue released when an airbag inflates can irritate the eyes, skin and airways, especially for people with asthma. Rinse your eyes and skin with clean water, get fresh air, and get medical care for eye pain, vision changes, wheezing or trouble breathing.
Can an airbag cause a concussion?
Yes. The airbag strikes the head and face with force, and the crash itself whips the head forward and back. Either can cause a concussion, even without losing consciousness. Headache, dizziness, nausea or feeling foggy after a crash are reasons to be checked.
When should I go to the ER after an airbag injury?
Go to the ER or call 911 for chest pain with trouble breathing, coughing up blood, severe or worsening abdominal pain, an obvious deformity of the wrist or arm, eye pain or vision changes, a large or blistering burn, or concussion danger signs such as a worsening headache, repeated vomiting or confusion.
Getting Care at Our Jacksonville Clinics
If your airbags deployed in a crash, our team can check you head to toe, coordinate imaging by referral, and treat the chest, neck, wrist and concussion symptoms that often follow. You can be seen at our Southside clinic at 10550 Deerwood Park Blvd, Suite 609 (32256), near JTB and I-295, or at our North Jacksonville clinic at 13453 N Main St, Suite 302 (32218), north of I-295. Both clinics offer the same services and the same hours, Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM. Call (904) 513-3954 or request an appointment.
