Occupant ejection injuries are most common among accidents involving light trucks, vans, and sport utility vehicles. This is attributed to the fact that these vehicles tend to be higher off the ground than cars. When a crash or sudden stop occurs, people can be catapulted out of these types of vehicles, especially if the car rolls over.
In the unfortunate event that you or a loved one has been injured due to a vehicle rollover or abrupt stop, our knowledgeable Atlanta personal injury and accident attorneys can help you ensure that those responsible for this accident are held liable. Contact us at (470) 323-8779, and we will get started with your free consultation.
When most people think about an accident, they give it little thought -it is usually one of two things, minor fender-bender or rollover. When they imagine themselves in an accident, their minds never visualize themselves hurtled out of the vehicle. Most people will agree that all the safety features such as seat belts, airbags, headrests, seat rails of modern cars keep you inside. But sometimes, if you run out of luck, high-speed collisions could result in you falling off the vehicle. So, let’s look at some of the scenarios in which occupants would eject from their cars:
Not Wearing Seat Belts
Seat belts save lives. However, wearing them still isn’t standard practice. By law, all passengers should wear a seatbelt while seated in a vehicle, but a loophole allows back seat passengers to opt-out. Unfortunately, this usually results in accidents where non-backseat occupants get ejected from their car, injuring themselves in the process.
Wearing safety belts significantly reduces the number and severity of injuries in a car accident. If you want to stay in the car during a car accident, you should always wear your safety belt.
Faulty Door Latches
If you’re driving a vehicle with defective door latches, the sudden opening of the door could cause your seatbelt to disengage and result in serious injuries. This is primarily due to the force of the momentum of the vehicle. The opening door could push occupants out of their seatbelt and through the opened door, sometimes killing them. Although most car companies do their best to make safe, reliable vehicles, there are recalls when something does go wrong.
When buying a used car, it is crucial to take the time to have the vehicle inspected by a mechanic. It’s quite common that defects can be found before they cause significant problems. Therefore, becoming familiar with typical signs of mechanical issues is crucial to find out if there are any defects in your vehicle.
Rollover Collisions
Rollover accidents are among the most severe kinds of car crashes. In a rollover crash, the roof and structure of the vehicle come under pressure from the rotational motion of the car. If a rollover accident occurs at a high rate of speed, the weight of the passengers may be enough to overcome a weakened roof structure and force legs, feet, or other parts of a person through a cracked or broken windshield.
Rollover and ejection injuries can be devastating and life-altering. If the speed limit is not followed and a seatbelt is not worn, the chance of injury significantly increases. To eliminate this risk, always follow the speed limit and buckle up every time you get into your car.
Types of Occupant Ejections
When a passenger is ejected from a vehicle, there is a possibility that they can be badly injured or even killed. An occupant can be partially or totally ejected from the car.
- A partial ejection accident occurs when the victim’s body is partially ejected through the vehicle windows or windshield. Unlike complete ejections, partial ejections result in passengers remaining attached to their seats. Partial ejections can be extremely dangerous, as your body weight will now be supported only by the remaining restraint system.
- Total ejection accidents involve the complete ejection of an occupant of the vehicle through some portion of the vehicle’s interior upon collision with another object. A key factor is the speed at which the vehicle is traveling when it crashes within total ejection accidents.
Injuries Caused in Occupant Ejection Accident
Occupant ejection injuries are usually very severe and typically occur when the seatbelt is not worn correctly. The driver and passenger compartments in most cars cannot withstand significant impact forces without breaking apart, which is why motor vehicle occupants in car collisions always suffer serious injury. Some of the most common types of occupant ejection injuries include:
1. Brain Injuries
A traumatic brain injury can result from a fall, a blow to the head, a penetrating head wound, or even a stroke, which usually happens when an occupant is ejected out from a seat. As a result of the velocity change, the brain gets struck from one side to another due to its rigid nature, which causes it to hit the inside of the skull. The force is so powerful that the brain gets ripped from its normal position and can get damaged due to trauma. In other instances, a physical blow or a piercing injury may also cause liquid or blood to leak into the brain tissue.
2. Spinal Cord Injuries
The spinal cord is the nerve network that relays communications between the brain and many parts of the body, including the arms, spine, and legs. When damaged, the spinal cord may result in partial or total paralysis below the level of injury. Spinal cord injuries can cause paralysis, depending on their location and severity, including the ejection speed, the force of impact between object and occupant, and the occupant’s position when the vehicle crashes.
3. Broken Bones
Broken bones are common in car accidents where an occupant ejects from the vehicle. They are prevalent where victims twist their bodies to avoid being trapped by their safety belts. The force from the impact can cause serious internal injuries and damage to soft tissue and bones. Sudden, intense acceleration or deceleration of the body will result in bones in the arms and legs being broken by the large amount of impact.
4. Injured Legs & Arms
When an occupant is ejected from a vehicle, arms and legs are the first places to feel the impact. The injuries caused are due to sudden stopping or quick turning of the car in which arms and legs are involuntarily moved. Knee injuries and other road-related injuries to the arms and legs in the front seat are caused by the dashboard. It is often hard to see these injuries in a person because they have already been cleaned up by the time they have been transported to a hospital.
Damages That You Can Recover After an Auto Ejection Collision
Getting into an auto ejection collision can trigger a lot of things to occupy your mind. Still, you must remember that you will be entitled to recover for all damages relating to the incident once the dust settles. These are some examples of damages that may be recovered:
- Medical Damages – After an auto ejection crash, compensation that you can get includes fees for medical services such as doctors, ambulance, stays, and hospital treatment. It is crucial to examine a medical professional for an accurate assessment of the severity of the injuries.
- Pain and Suffering – These damages are assessed based on the severity of an injury, the length of time it takes to heal, and the amount of discomfort caused by an injury. No matter the cause, pain and suffering damages are intended to place a monetary value on the emotional losses you suffer. These losses can extend beyond physical injury, including emotional distress and mental anguish.
- Lost Wages – These are calculated to include both economic losses and non-economic losses. The time required for recovery, including physical therapy sessions, in a hospital, or to have enough money for continuing medical needs are included in the calculation.
- Disfigurement – Suppose you have suffered severe disfigurement or scarring due to an auto ejection accident. In that case, damages may be available if the scarring is noticeable and interferes with your personal and professional life. In addition to physical consequences, a disfigured individual may be entitled to mental anguish damages.
Why Consult Attorneys at Ali Awad?
Depending on the severity of the car accident injuries, occupant ejection victims may be entitled to pursue compensation that could help pay for medical treatment, lost wages, and many other potential damages. The Atlanta car accident lawyers at the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm have been involved in a number of rollover collision cases where occupant ejections have been a part of the claim.
We are extremely proud of our history of success and the excellent personal injury results that we have achieved for our clients. When you seek out financial recovery for your injuries, we want to ensure that you don’t have to worry about any other expenses while getting the care and treatment you deserve. To determine exactly how much your case is worth, fill out the contact form online or call us at (470) 323-8779.
