The Tragic Implications of Vehicle Ejection Accidents
The South Florida Sun Sentinel recently reported that three young people from Broward County were killed in a violent Miami-Dade crash on a recent Sunday morning. Authorities have stated that the driver of a black Volkswagen was heading north on the Palmetto expressway and lost control of the vehicle, causing it to leave the road and crash into trees. Two of the young people who perished died when they were ejected from the vehicle while the third passed away inside the car. In addition, two other passengers had to be hospitalized with serious injuries. Sadly, those who died ranged between being just 20 and 21 years old.
Understanding the Risk
Becoming ejected from a vehicle is often a major risk in rollover crashes. Unfortunately, this dangerous type of accident carries the highest risk of ending in a fatality. Grim statistics published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration regarding an analysis of accidents from one year revealed that while only about two percent of accidents involved a rollover, rollovers accounted for almost 35 percent of fatalities. Notably, the overwhelming majority of the people who perished (69 percent) were not wearing safety belts at the time of the collision.
Other causes of vehicle ejections include:
- Speeding excessively at the time of the crash
- Faulty door latches
- Damaged side windows
- Defective seat belts
- Incorrectly installed child safety restraints
And unfortunately, the risk of harm doesn’t end at the ejection itself. Instead, those who have been ejected from a vehicle can face an additional risk of being run over by drivers of other vehicles depending on where they land.
Ways to Combat and Help Avoid Vehicle Ejections
Fortunately, there are safety measures drivers can take to reduce the risk of vehicle injections and the severe injuries that come with them. These measures include:
- Require seat belt use. Always wear a seat belt yourself and refuse to move your vehicle until your passengers are buckled up too.
- Keep up with maintenance. Perform your scheduled maintenance regularly and ensure that you have the doors, seat belts and windows checked periodically.
- Don’t speed. Keep an eye on posted speed limits and make a habit of leaving your house ten minutes earlier than you think you need to help you avoid the temptation.
You Can Lean on Us.
Vehicle ejections are extremely dangerous and often have tragic implications. For this reason, obtaining legal representation as soon as possible is essential if you or a loved one was thrown out of a vehicle during a crash. As the experienced Miami personal injury attorneys of the Pendas Law Firm, we are here to help you through every step of the claims process going forward, including gathering and presenting all the evidence needed to win your personal injury claim and recover the compensation you deserve. We have years of experience recovering compensation for those who need it most. Contact us today to begin with a free, no-obligation consultation..
The Pendas Law Firm also represents clients in the Orlando, Ocala, Tampa, Bradenton, West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Fort Myers and Daytona Beach areas.
Resource:
sun-sentinel.com/news/transportation/fl-ne-weston-residents-fatal-palmetto-20200309-jofg46epnzhvjby4pdyphx4g3i-story.html
https://www.pendaslaw.com/why-you-should-hire-a-personal-injury-attorney-after-your-car-accident/
