Three teenagers sustained serious injuries in a recent two-car accident. The accident occurred when a car ran into a flatbed trailer that was being pulled by a pickup truck. The three girls, who were not wearing their seatbelts, were ejected from the car. They are now recovering from their injuries after spending time in the hospital.
Accidents involving ejection are scary, and they often involve serious injury or death. The best way for drivers and passengers to reduce the risk that they will be ejected from a vehicle in the event of a wreck is to wear a seat belt. For some people, wearing a seatbelt is a choice that they make. For others, especially children, it is mandated by law. In Mississippi, Section 63-2 of the Mississippi Code requires drivers and front seat passengers to wear seat belts. Children who are younger than seven must be buckled into a child safety seat that is appropriate for their age, size, and weight. Adult passengers who ride in rear seats are free to choose whether or not they wear seatbelts, as are children between the ages of seven and eighteen who sit in the back seat.
Statistics have shown that people who choose not to wear their seatbelts have a risk of being ejected that is thirty times higher than the ejection risk for people who wear seatbelts. The statistics on ejection and fatalities are even more concerning. In automobile wrecks where one or more people are ejected from a vehicle, there is a seventy-five percent chance that each person who was ejected from the vehicle will die either instantly, or at some time after the crash as the result of their injuries.
In addition to preventing ejection, seatbelt use also reduces the risk of injuries to people who remain inside of vehicles during crashes. It is estimated that the medical bills of automobile accident victims who were wearing seat belts during their accidents are fifty percent lower than the medical bills of those accident victims who were not wearing their seat belts. Children experience an even greater risk of being severely injured or killed in a car accident if they are not using the right car seat or seatbelt. This is why there are specific seat belt and child safety seat rules that apply to child passengers. Parents must also be aware that choosing the correct child safety seat or belt for your child’s age, height, and weight is just the first step towards keeping your kids safe in the car. A child’s car seat or booster seat must also be installed in your vehicle correctly for it to prevent injuries or death during a car accident.
Barrett Law PLLC: Support for Mississippi Car Accident Victims and Their Families
Accidents involving ejection are often tragic. If a person gets ejected from a vehicle and they survive the crash, they are often severely injured, and they may face a long period of healing and recovery. If you were hurt or someone that you love died after being ejected from a motor vehicle during an accident, you may be able to recover for your injuries or your loss. The Mississippi Automobile Accident Attorneys at Barrett Law PLLC help accident victims and their families recover physically and financially after automobile accidents. Please call our office today, at 1 (601) 790-1505 to schedule your free, initial consultation.