Are seatbelts dangerous to use? Some people think so.
Rollover Ejection Accident Hospitalizes 4 People
According to a KSAT News report, 4 people were hospitalized after being ejected from their vehicle in a rollover accident last night.
Police reported the incident occurred around 1:10 p.m., when, for unknown reasons, a vehicle rolled off the highway and crashed into a utility pole. The vehicle lost control on Loop 1604 and Braun Road on the Northwest Side. Four occupants were ejected as a result, two women and two men who have not been identified. They were transported to the hospital in critical condition.
Did You Know?
Rollover accidents cause the deaths of over 10,000 people every year.
Are Seatbelts Safe?
The most important factor in a rollover accident regarding vehicle ejection is whether or not the passengers were wearing a seatbelt. Of the more than 10,000 people who die from rollover vehicle ejection every year, 69% were not wearing a seatbelt.
Most people know that driving without a seatbelt is illegal, but they do it anyway. One of the most commonly cited reasons for not wearing a seatbelt is that seatbelts actually cause more injury than they provide protection and can cause you to become trapped in a burning or flooded vehicle.
Let’s take a look at these claims and show why seatbelts are safe and provide necessary protection to motorists in San Antonio.
Seatbelts Are Safe
It is true that seatbelts cause injuries in auto accidents. Some can even be serious. For example, seatbelts can cause:
- Fractured Ribs
- Abrasions and Cuts
- Shoulder Injuries
- Difficulty Breathing
- Internal Organ Damage
So, does that mean you would be better off not wearing a seatbelt? No!
Seatbelts very rarely cause serious injury and most commonly result in minor bruising. Your seatbelt may cause serious injury if you’re in a particularly forceful accident… but vehicle ejection is far worse. Not wearing a seatbelt greatly increases the risk of being ejected and also allows you to be thrown against your steering wheel, the ceiling, and other passengers, greatly increasing your risk of death and life-altering injury.
The risk of serious injury to a person in any motor vehicle accident increases by a factor of 20 if they are completely ejected, and the likelihood of death increases by a factor of 91, according to an Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine study².
Seatbelts Reduce Your Risk of Becoming Trapped
The fear of being trapped in a flooded or burning car by a seatbelt is not warranted. You see, if your vehicle is in a serious enough accident to be filling up with water or burning, you will likely be seriously injured or knocked unconscious by the impact. You are far less likely to be able to escape a dangerous situation if you are seriously hurt, and you won’t be able to do anything at all if you’re knocked unconscious because you weren’t wearing your seatbelt.
Seatbelts reduce the risk of serious injury and death by at least 45%.
Purchasing a seat belt cutter may alleviate those fears, as they can be easily attached to your visor for quick access should you ever need one (which is highly unlikely).
Injured in an Ejection Accident in San Antonio? Call Carabin Shaw
Carabin Shaw has been putting clients first for 30 years and has successfully represented injured clients across San Antonio. Call the team who cares today at 800-862-1260 for a free case evaluation to find out what you’re legally entitled to. We look forward to serving you.
Contacting a Carabin Shaw attorney is free and does not obligate you to work with the firm.