A syringe assembly comprising: a fluid barrel including a sidewall having an inside surface defining a fluid chamber for retaining fluid and having a first cross-sectional width, an open proximal end and a distal end including a distal wall; a plunger rod disposed within the fluid chamber comprising a distal end, a proximal end, a plunger rod body extending from the distal end to the proximal end, and a stopper disposed at the distal end of the plunger rod for forming a fluid-tight seal with the inside surface of the barrel; a retraction barrel disposed adjacent to the sidewall of the fluid barrel, the retraction barrel including a wall having an interior surface defining a needle chamber, an open proximal end, an open distal end including a barrier wall, an aperture between the wall of the retraction barrel and the sidewall of the fluid barrel permitting fluid communication between the fluid chamber and the needle chamber and a needle hub assembly comprising a needle hub, a needle cannula attached to the needle hub, the needle cannula being in fluid communication with the aperture and biased to move in a proximal direction; and a trigger element disposed within the needle chamber and moveable within the retraction barrel independently from the plunger rod, the trigger element providing a trigger force causing the needle cannula to retract into the retraction barrel. characterized by a biasing element disposed between the needle cannula and the wall of the retraction barrel and wherein the trigger element includes a free proximal end, a free and open distal end that provides the trigger force, and a trigger element body extending from the proximal end to the distal end and including an interior surface defining a hollow interior. a fluid barrel including a sidewall having an inside surface defining a fluid chamber for retaining fluid and having a first cross-sectional width, an open proximal end and a distal end including a distal wall; a plunger rod disposed within the fluid chamber comprising a distal end, a proximal end, a plunger rod body extending from the distal end to the proximal end, and a stopper disposed at the distal end of the plunger rod for forming a fluid-tight seal with the inside surface of the barrel; a retraction barrel disposed adjacent to the sidewall of the fluid barrel, the retraction barrel including a wall having an interior surface defining a needle chamber, an open proximal end, an open distal end including a barrier wall, an aperture between the wall of the retraction barrel and the sidewall of the fluid barrel permitting fluid communication between the fluid chamber and the needle chamber and a needle hub assembly comprising a needle hub, a needle cannula attached to the needle hub, the needle cannula being in fluid communication with the aperture and biased to move in a proximal direction; and a trigger element disposed within the needle chamber and moveable within the retraction barrel independently from the plunger rod, the trigger element providing a trigger force causing the needle cannula to retract into the retraction barrel. characterized by a biasing element disposed between the needle cannula and the wall of the retraction barrel and wherein the trigger element includes a free proximal end, a free and open distal end that provides the trigger force, and a trigger element body extending from the proximal end to the distal end and including an interior surface defining a hollow interior.