Ideally, your body should remain inside the car in case of a car crash. However, the impact of a collision can throw you out of the car and worsen your injuries. Understanding why that might happen can help you pursue your auto accident damages. Below are some of the things that increase your risk of ejection in a car accident.
No Seatbelt
The seatbelt plays multiple roles in car occupant safety. For example, the seatbelt:
- Keeps you inside the car in case of a crash
- Positions you for maximum airbag protection
- Ensures an accident impact doesn’t throw you around inside the car
Thus, the impact of an accident can throw you out through the window or windshield if you are don’t wear a seatbelt.
Defective Seatbelt
Using a defective seatbelt is almost as dangerous as no seatbelt. A seatbelt might be defective if:
- It doesn’t latch correctly
- It unlatches due to the accident’s impact
- Its retractor gives too much slack
- It easily tears during an accident
In short, anything that prevents the seatbelt from protecting you as well as it should is dangerous. Some of the things that can cause seatbelt defects include manufacturing errors, poor car maintenance, and wear and tear.
Open Door
The car’s body also plays a part in keeping you inside in case of a crash. That is why an ejection risk increases in a crash that involves an open car door. That might be the case, for example, if you drove with an open door just before the crash. Another example is if the impact opens the door (like with a defective door).
Defective Window Glass
Both windows and windshields also contribute to car safety in case of a crash. For example, the glass:
- Helps the airbag to deploy properly
- Adds to the structural integrity of the car
- Keeps you inside the car in case of an impact
Thus, windshield or window glass damage increases your risk of injection. That might be the case if:
- The glass falls off due to the high impact of the crash
- The glass falls of because someone installed it improperly
- The glass shatters
An accident investigation can help determine the cause of auto glass failure.
Vehicle Rollover
An accident that involves a rollover is more likely to cause an ejection. The risk increases since a rollover puts your body in unnatural positions. Some part of your body is likely to end up outside the car, even with a seatbelt. A rollover is also likely to damage car parts that should keep you inside the car, such as the windshield.
High-Impact Crash
Manufacturers have invested a great deal in car safety, but cars are not immune to serious damages. Serious damage increases the risk of injection. That is why a high-impact crash is often likely to end in an ejection. Note that an accident’s impact depends on the speed and weight of the vehicles involved. Thus, ejections are more common in high-speed accidents than low-speed accidents.
High-Risk Vehicles
The type of cars in the crash also affect the ejection risk. For example, light trucks and vans are more likely to result in ejections than passenger cars. A car’s design also plays a role in ejection risk. For example, weak roofs and poor safety systems (such as the lack of curtain airbags) also increase ejection risk.
Note that the defendant might argue that you contributed to your ejection, and hence, you are to blame for your injuries. The Jaklitsch Law Group can help defend your rights and ensure you get the compensation you deserve. Contact us for a free initial consultation to determine how to pursue your case.
