What type of incident might necessitate the use of airbag deployment during extrication?

The use of airbag deployment during extrication is particularly crucial in situations involving side-impact collisions. In these scenarios, the vehicle's integrity may be compromised, and occupants are at a heightened risk of injury from impacts on the door side. Deploying the airbags can provide additional protection by cushioning the impact and preventing occupants from striking the interior parts of the vehicle or each other.

This protective mechanism is especially important in side-impact situations because the airbags are designed to deploy at specific angles and timing to offer maximum safety to the individual sides of the vehicle. Additionally, the dynamics of such collisions can result in more significant forces acting on the occupants compared to rear-impact or head-on collisions, where other safety measures might provide sufficient protection without necessitating immediate airbag deployment.

Rollover accidents, while dangerous, often involve complex vehicle dynamics that may not always align with the intended deployment criteria for side airbags, making their use less predictable. In contrast, the immediate risk posed by side impacts makes the deployment of airbags a critical piece of safety equipment in those situations.