What Is The Safest Spot In a Vehicle?

Most of the time, you probably put very little thought into your choice of seat in a vehicle. If you’re the only one headed to your destination, you obviously need to be in the driver’s seat. It can be rude to sit in the backseat if you are the only passenger, as it gives the appearance that the person in the driver’s seat is your chauffeur. I gave my friend a ride last weekend and she did that and it was SO weird. Some people also get carsick if they sit in the back seat of a car. However, if you are getting into a vehicle with multiple passengers, you may want to pick your spot in the vehicle based on safety rather than comfort.

Safest Seat In The Vehicle

Many people might be surprised by which seat in the vehicle is the safest in case of a collision. When available, the rear middle seat with both a lap and shoulder seat belt is the safest seat in a car crash. A headrest with neck protection can also help prevent whiplash, but the overall distance from the collision is what makes the middle rear seat the safest.

Which Side Of The Backseat?

Perhaps you don’t feel comfortable in the middle rear seat, or it doesn’t have a functional seat belt. If someone else has already called shotgun, that may leave you with your choice of behind the driver’s seat or the passenger’s seat. You should know that statistically, you are slightly more likely to be injured in a traffic accident sitting in the rear passenger’s seat than in the rear driver’s seat. The most common example of this would be when someone makes a left turn without waiting for the right of way or when an oncoming driver runs a red light or traffic signal. Here, the other driver would collide with the passenger’s side of the vehicle. The reverse of this situation, where the driver turns right and an oncoming driver collides with them while making a left turn, is less likely to happen, and especially at a high speed.

Child Car Seat Placement

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), recommends keeping children in the back seat of the vehicle until they are at least 12 years old. They also have recommendations for car seats for younger children until they reach a certain weight and height. Infants should be kept in rear-facing child seats, as they protect the neck and spine, a particularly vulnerable area for infants. As the child gets older, they can switch to a forward-facing car seat, which has a harness to limit forward movement during a crash. Then, when the child is older and larger, they can eventually use a booster seat, which allows the child to use a standard seat belt but places them in a higher position in case of an accident. Some car seats only have one functionality, although combination seats and all-in-one car seats are available.

What to Do After a Traffic Collision

• Assess yourself and your passengers for injuries. If someone is seriously injured, getting them prompt medical attention should take precedence over all else. If you can move your vehicle, get it to the side of the road or somewhere safe to conduct this assessment. Call 911 if you need emergency services- the police may send out officers to issue a police report even if you don’t need an ambulance.
• Exchange information with the other driver. All drivers are required by law to maintain auto insurance and stop at the scene of the accident, although things don’t always turn out that way. If the driver stops, make sure to get their insurance information and license plate number so that you can file a claim under their policy.
• Take pictures and collect other evidence. If your accident occurred due to the other driver’s negligence, you will probably want to pursue a claim for property damages and/or personal injury at some point. Photographs of the scene of the accident can become valuable later down the road. If there are any eyewitnesses to the crash, you should get their information as well.
• Seek medical attention, if you haven’t already. You could have injuries that you aren’t aware of yet. It is always better to be safe than sorry.
• Talk to a Mesa personal injury attorney. Most of the time, to seek compensation for your injuries after an accident, you will need to contact the other party’s insurance provider. From this moment on, an adjuster will be assigned to your claim to bring its value as close to zero as possible. They can and will attack the validity of your injuries and damages in several ways. If you retain a personal injury attorney, they will serve as an intermediary between you and the insurance company, while at the same time looking out for your best interests. All of this will help preserve the value of your personal injury claim.

Common Injuries From Traffic Collisions

Neck & Spine Injuries – Whiplash

Rear-end collisions are the most common type of traffic collision in the United States. They commonly result in injuries to the neck and spine, particularly whiplash. Whiplash can manifest in symptoms like pain, stiffness, and swelling in the neck, loss of mobility, numbness, and tingling radiating down the arms, headaches, and more. One of the tricky parts about whiplash is that it might remain undetected for days, weeks, or longer after an accident. This is an example of why it is crucial to seek prompt medical attention after a traffic collision.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Traumatic Brain Injuries, or TBIs, can have devastating effects on accident victims’ lives. Some are minor, while others can lead to permanent memory loss or disability. One of the most common TBIs is a concussion. It can be dangerous for someone to go to sleep unattended after a TBI such as a concussion. Seek medical attention immediately if there is any chance you incurred a TBI in a traffic accident.

Broken Bones

The impact of a traffic collision can easily break the bones of anyone involved. Broken bones are painful and can require extensive physical therapy as part of the recovery process. Depending on the severity of the injuries and someone’s professional field, they may need to miss significant time from work while waiting for the breaks to heal.

Consider Retaining a Personal Injury Lawyer For Your Claim

The negative part about hiring a personal injury attorney for your claim is that they will take a portion of your award when all is said and done. However, a skilled attorney can make sure that you are fairly compensated for every last penny of your damages after an accident. When you are injured due to another driver’s negligence, you deserve compensation for your injuries. Don’t let their insurance company get away with paying you less than what you’re due. Our experienced personal injury team at Mesa Injury Lawyers can create a plan to achieve the highest possible injury award based on your unique circumstances. You can even call us before you call the other party’s insurance company – contact us to schedule your free consultation today.

Mesa Injury Lawyers
1731 West Baseline Road Suite #103
Mesa, AZ 85202
Tel: 602-600-6001
Email: [email protected]
Website: injurylawyersmesa.com