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Air Bag Testimonials |
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The following are a few examples of real life Air Bag experiences. I feel that these are very important in showing just how dangerous these devices really are. While the NHTSA, the Government, and the media will tell you that there aren't very many people killed or injured by Air Bags, I believe that the following will help to prove otherwise.
No real names have been used in the following letters. My wife was severly injured by a passenger side Air Bag. She was in a 1994 Ford Mustang. Her face was badly burned by the chemicals in the Air Bag and she received severe injuries to her neck. She has had reconstructive surgery to her cervical spine on two separate occasions and is still in great pain. This has drastically changed both her and my life. Please let me know if you have received any other information regarding airbag deployment in Ford Mustangs and subsequent injuries. This would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for getting this important information regarding the dangers of Air Bags out to the public. In June of 1997, my wife and I were involved in an automobile accident. I was driving, and saw the other car skidding towards us. I managed to bring our car to the side of the road and come to a complete stop. The other car could not stop and hit us in the front left side (driver's side) I had thrown my arm up to protect my face from the expected flying glass. As it turned out, the arm was severely burned from the Air Bag, and my wife's wrist was shattered in three places from her Air Bag. We both had our seat belts on and sustained no other injuries. We both feel that had we not had the Air Bags in the car we would not have suffered any personal injuries. Ever since that day, my wife has been afraid in the car and will not take any trips. She carries a pillow on her lap when even just going with me to the stores. I have received approval from the National Transportation Board to have an air bag switch put in our car but cannot find anyone who is willing to do so. General Motors has advised me they have the switch and the instructions but I cannot find a dealer willing to do the work because of the advice from their lawyers. I understand that Chrysler owners in Pennsylvania have won a class action lawsuit because of the Air Bags. Perhaps that is what we need in other states. The choice of using Air Bags should be the right of individual citizens and not be forced upon them by Government. I was just reading your editorial on Air Bags and it struck home. In December 1997 one of my best friends died from an Air Bag, her name was "Jane," she was only 4' 9" tall and maybe 115 lbs. She died from massive internal injuries from an Air Bag. She drove a 1997 Ranger truck and rear ended a car at low speed, there was not much damage to truck and under investigation the body shop found the Air Bag wire got cut under impact by the trucks own bumper, the engineers should have encased or rooted the wires somewhere else. But all in all this lovely lady should not be dead and my best friend shouldn't be alone the rest of his life because his wife got killed by someones idea of safety. "Jane" did much for special groups & charities and spent most of her life giving to others. For this she was given a special plaque from the state of Maryland senators when she died for all her work. "Jane" died coming back from Annapolis, MD with a truck full of presents for homeless kids. Thanks for your ear (eyes). My wife was injured by a passenger side Air Bag. She received cervical spine injuries as well as burns to her face. She has had two cervical fusion surgeries on discs C3, C4, C5, C6 and C7. Thank you for bringing this important information regarding the dangers of airbags to the net. I am sure there are many people in the same situation. Please respond as there is some very important information I would like you to have. Hi! About two years ago, my mother was in a car accident where the Air Bag deployed. When they brought her to the hospital, they took an x-ray of her chest, and asked her how long she had been smoking for. My mother never smoked a day in her life. It was all of the dust and particles from the Air Bag. Since that accident, she has been diagnosed with Sarcoidosis, however I believe that her problems are due to the Air Bag use of sodium azide. There was a story on the Fox news channel about other people who have the same symptoms as my mother since their Air Bags deployed as well. The symptoms include a metalic taste in the mouth, burning in the throat and vocal cords, difficulty breathing, problems with their vision, and headaches, nausea, and dizziness. If you have heard of anything like this before, please e-mail me with any information. On 8 Nov 97, my wife, daughter and I were driving on a country road in Germany. It was already dark and as I rounded a curve a doe, approximately 80 LBS, was in the middle of the road just entering my lane. I was doing around 70 MPH when I hit her. One minute she was there the next minute I couldn't see for the smoke. I had a small dent in the bumper, a small dent in the hood and my windshield was broken. My wife bore the brunt of the injuries. Her face was torn open by the air bag. Her hearing was lost for about 24 hours. Her neck and jaw are sore from the impact with the air bag. I faired much better with mild redness on my right forearm from the heat. The bags were not needed as the deer was thrown over the vehicle and never slowed the vehicle from the impact. To make matters worse, We were stuck out in the middle of the country with a dead vehicle. The air bags cause the fuel to be cut off to the engine when they deploy. My 1996 Honda Civic owners manual didn't mention this fact or inform me where the switch was to reset it so I could drive to get assistance. My initial response to the air bags is I could have been better off without them. Just finished reading your Air Bag commentaries on your website. I agree with everything! My best friend is a cop who was involved in a crash (30mph) and got nailed w/the Air Bag in his 96 Crown Vic cruiser. He didn't know what was going on for 5 minutes. It also ripped his hands from the steering wheel and slammed his left arm against the door pillar (his window was open at the time). He thought it broke his arm... and it would have broken a regular person's arm! This guy is built like a tank and about as strong. I think his arm may have dented the car! I also think of the 2 low speed wrecks I've been in and how fortunate I was to have an 88 Mustang w/o airbags. So these experiences validate what you mention. Thanks for your help. I was involved in a minor accident June 1996. I was the driver of a new 96 Ford Mustang. An oncoming car turned in my path. I was doing approx. 30 mph. I hit the brakes, skidded and struck the other car. It was a classic t-bone the front of my car hitting the passenger side of the other car. I had my seat belt on and the seat was all the way rearward. I am male 5' 11", 185 lbs, and in good physical condition. My car had a tilt wheel. I would estimate my speed at 5-10 mph at impact. As we struck I felt myself moving forward. The seat belt locked and I felt it tighten on my shoulder. A sudden loud explosion announced the activation of both the driver side and passenger air bag. The tilt wheel was tilted in the up position and the full force of the air bag hit me in the upper chest, neck and face. I am 48 years old. I was stunned and dazed. I was having extreme diffucilty breathing. I can only describe getting hit by the air bag as being hit by a base ball bat full force in the chest. I was taken to the hospital and 3 days later developed simple wiplash to the neck. I still have neck pain to this day. I have no doubt that the air bag caused my injuries. I always wear my seat belt. After the accident I appealed to the NHTSA and have been allowed to remove the air bag. Now I have had a racing type seat belt and shoulder harness installed. My mother-in-law was in a car wreck where she was hit on the driver side and the person who hit her was only going 20 mph. The air bag deployed and she said she could not breathe because she said she felt like there was no oxygen in the car she said that her skin was burning. They took her to the hospital to tell her that she was going to be just fine, only to find out that she wasn't. About 6 years ago she had breast cancer and they did reconstructive surgery on her breast now when the air bag deployed it hit her so hard that it caused an infection in the tissue in the wall of her chest and abdomen. The doctor said that basically she had gangrene. She only stands about five feet four. Well the doctors are now saying that the air bag hit her so hard that it turned what muscle that is left in her breast to mush. She also has a swollen aorta, and difficulty breathing, she gets cramps in her abdomen and legs which they say could be blood clots. I would like to know if there is anyone else that has had these type of injuries form air bags. Could you please e mail me back with your comments and or information you might have that could help her deal with this tragedy. I've already written the NHTSA asking for permission to disconnect. I was denied. They are apparently only granting that permission to people with kids. And heaven knows, those people need the dispensation. An 11-year-old kid from Fergus Falls MN was killed this week by an Air Bag. He was in the front seat of a van, with his seat belt buckled. He leaned over to pick up something off the floor, and the car he was in rear-ended the car in front of the one he was in. The accident happened on the freeway, but during rush hour, so speeds were low. It was an accident in which no one should have suffered injuries. The airbag broke his neck. We must stop this madness. The federal government has the lives of many children and small adults on their conscience. What has anyone done or said to get Bill Clinton's attention on this matter? He's a softie. Maybe we should try that. Thanks for all your efforts on this matter. I'll continue to watch your page, but keep me up to date on developments, please. Thanks. Have a good day. Fasten your seat belt!!! I don't recall seeing your Air Bag page before or your name anywhere in my extensive research about Air Bag dangers. We share many of the same views about Air Bags. My mother was killed by one in April 1996, that is why I wanted to learn all that I could about Air Bags. I am wondering how you came to want the Air Bag mandate revoked to make Air Bags optional equipment; can you tell me? Thank you for supplying air bag information on your web page. I am a 5-foot-2 driver of a 1995 Chevy Lumina and would like to have the driver's side airbag disconnected. I have put pedal extenders on my gas and brake pedals to help create greater distance between me and the airbag while the government fiddles away time making a decision about letting car owners have them disconnected. I would be interested in seeing a consumer petition for action and/or a discussion page created on this topic. I'll check into your web site occasionally. More to follow |
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