In the State of California, it's estimated that nearly 1,000 lives are saved each year by the use airbags, but what about the lives that have been taken by airbag deployment? Out of the thousand plus that were saved in 2009, there were a reported 52 lives taken that same year by faulty airbags, and over 250 critical conditions caused. Some of these deaths and injuries could have been avoided had the airbags correctly deployed. Some of these injuries occurred from minor accidents, and if it weren't for airbags those people could have just walked away.

Now the lives of these citizens, and their families, will forever be changed. The violent deployment of airbags has caused various injuries, including burns to the skin, hearing damage, head injuries, broken ribs, eye damage, broken fingers, hands or arms and of course death. It is also noted that airbags can make it difficult in rescues as they restrict body movement of passengers as well as the efforts made my rescue personnel. There is still a possibility when the rescue workers are trying to help a victim that the airbags can deploy making it more dangerous for all. People are more at risk for injuries with airbag deployment in speeds of 20 miles per hour or less. According to John Graham, Director of the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis, "These finding about airbags deploying in low speed crashes suggest that airbag suppliers and vehicle manufactures need to consider the setting of airbag deployment threshold." One such injury, reported by a Los Angeles accident attorney, was to a father of two, Ed Samson.

In the winter of 1996 Ed was driving in his neighborhood when he hit a patch of black ice. His car slid to the curb at a speed of 25mph. The car hit the curb and the airbag deployed giving a tremendous blow to his neck. The blow had broken his neck and now Ed the father of two will be a quadriplegic for the rest of his life. Many of these statistics do not include injuries and deaths of vehicle models that are 1999 or before. Some deaths and injuries from vehicles made in these years are caused by airbag module covers. These vehicles have no warnings labels to inform drivers of the risk.

Many people in the State of California, as well as they rest of the United States, agree that something needs to be done in reassuring people of all sizes and at all speeds, that they are safe with their airbags. These injuries can happen to anyone at any time.