When a passenger is thrown from the vehicle during an accident, it is known as an ejection accident. A victim’s injuries will likely be much more serious than if they had remained inside the car during the collision. Studies conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have shown that of all vehicle ejection victims, 83% lose their lives due to their injuries. But how do ejection accidents occur? Read on for more information and contact a Kane County auto accident lawyer for skilled representation.
What Are Ejection Accidents?
Ejection accidents are some of the most dangerous types of car accidents. They involve one or more passengers being thrown from the vehicle after the collision. The force of the impact, depending on where and how they land, can cause serious injuries and damage. A victim of an ejection accident can face broken bones, bruising, fractures, spinal cord injuries, concussions, brain injuries, internal bleeding, and even death. There are two types of ejection accidents, total and partial.
A total ejection is one where the victim is completely removed from the vehicle. They may land on the hood of the car, the ground, on another car, etc. Total ejections are more serious than partial ejections because the victim is usually thrown a further distance and sustains more injuries. They could strike another object outside of the car as well.
A victim who experiences a partial ejection is not completely thrown from the vehicle. They may be halfway out but are not entirely removed. This commonly occurs when the victim is wearing a seatbelt or if an airbag deploys. They may also have been prevented from exiting the car by another object or the dashboard.
How Do Ejections Happen?
Ejection accidents can happen for various reasons, but there are some things that contribute to a higher chance of a passenger being ejected. The following are some potential causes of ejection accidents.
- Not wearing a seatbelt: Passengers not wearing seatbelts is a major cause of ejections. The strap can prevent injuries and being thrown from the seat or car.
- Defective seatbelt: If you do wear your seatbelt and still end up being ejected from the vehicle, it could be defective. The buckle may not be working properly or the belt itself could be worn.
- Vehicle rollover: If the collision causes the car to roll over a person is much more likely to be thrown from the vehicle. The rolling can cause the windshield and window glass to shatter and the sunroof or regular roof could collapse.
- Speed of driving: The faster each car is going at the time of the crash, the bigger the force of impact will be. Driving at excessive speeds can cause a person to be ejected from the car.
- Rear-end collisions: Rear-end collisions often cause passengers to be thrown through the windshield or a window, especially when the cars are driving fast.
