Florida is known for having some of the highest numbers of reported car accidents every year. Many victims require help from Florida car accident attorneys due to their injuries.
Some people believe that the location where you sit in the vehicle can affect the severity of injuries you suffer in a crash. If this is the case, is there one seat in a vehicle that’s more dangerous than others?
Here, you can learn more about car accidents and potential injuries in different seats.
Most Common Points of Impact
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found that head-on collisions were the most common type of collision that resulted in fatal accidents in 2021, accounting for around 59% of all fatal collisions across the country. Other leading types include:
- Side-impact collisions: Around 25% of all fatal crashes.
- Rear-end collisions: Account for 6% of all fatal crashes.
- Other (mostly rollover crashes): Account for nearly 10% of all fatal car crashes.
These findings suggest that individuals are more prone to experiencing rear-end accidents compared to head-on collisions. However, in the event of an accident, the likelihood of fatality is significantly higher in a head-on collision than in a rear-end accident.
Riding Safely in Cars
When riding in a vehicle, the safest seating posture is to sit upright. You should have your feet firmly planted on the floor. Additionally, always have your seat belt fastened.
Airbags are designed to deploy, assuming passengers are sitting upright. Sitting cross-legged, placing feet on the dashboard, or extending feet out of the window can hinder airbag effectiveness and increase the risk of injury.
As you may not have time to adjust your position before impact, it is crucial to maintain a safe and normal seated position with your feet on the floor at all times.
Increased Risk of Injuries
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found that traveling in the backseat of a car without wearing a seatbelt increases your risk of injury or death in a collision by eight times compared to wearing one. Whether your journey is short or long, it is crucial to buckle up for safety.
Our car accident lawyer in Florida often hears about motor vehicle collisions where one person loses their life while other occupants escape with no injuries or minor ones. This might lead to the assumption that specific seats in a vehicle are safer than others.
However, it is essential to recognize that there is no such thing as a seat that is more dangerous than others during a collision. Instead, the level of danger in a car crash largely depends on the location of the impact.
In fact, in several different types of automobile accidents, the “safest” seat varied:
- During a left turn in front of oncoming traffic, the front passenger might face the most severe injuries if closest to the collision. In this case, the seat behind the driver might be the safest.
- In a head-on collision, the middle seat in the back might provide the highest level of safety.
- The front passenger seat might offer the most safety in a rear-end collision.
Drivers and passengers must understand that any seat with a seatbelt is safer than one without. This is particularly significant for backseat passengers, considering the association of ride-share services like Uber and Lyft with a lack of enforcement surrounding passenger seatbelt use.
The Back Driver’s Side Passenger Seat
The center rear seat is deemed the safest for infants and children from newborn to 3 years old, offering approximately 43% more safety than seated behind the driver or the front passenger seat.
Interestingly, this seat is not the most commonly chosen option despite its safety advantages. Around 41% of parents choose to place their child’s car seat in the backseat on the passenger side. This decision may result from ease of access and the convenience of monitoring the child during travel.
Riding in the Middle Seat
While the middle seat typically offers a significant barrier in T-bone or side-impact crashes (which accounts for about 25% of car accidents), passengers are truly protected only if they use a lap and shoulder belt.
Also, many newer vehicles have seat belts that tighten automatically when sensors that detect collisions are activated. These are typically found only in the front seat. For adults over 55, utilizing these seat belts in the front seat can offer additional protection.
If you were hurt or your loved one has lost their life due to a vehicle collision, contact a Florida car accident attorney right away. You may have legal options to help you recover compensation for medical and funeral costs.
Call Our Florida Car Accident Attorney Today
Our Florida car accident attorney at Sternberg | Forsythe, PA, is committed to providing clients with top-quality legal services. We understand how difficult it can be to deal with the effects of a crash, which is why we are here to help you get justice. Schedule a consultation with our car accident lawyer in Florida to discuss your rights and options.