Thanks to advances in safety technology, today’s motor vehicles are safer than ever. That means that motorists are less likely to suffer severe injuries in the event of a car accident.
However, despite modern advancements, backseat passengers are at an increased risk of being seriously injured or killed in a car accident compared to front-seat passengers. Depending on the nature and severity of the accident, injuries can range from minor cuts and bruises to broken bones, internal bleeding, and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).
The following are common backseat passenger injuries:
- Cuts and lacerations
- Bruised or broken ribs
- Punctured lung or other damage to internal organs
- TBIs
- Head and neck injuries
- Herniated discs
- Spinal cord injuries and partial or total paralysis
- Internal bleeding and organ damage
What Are the Most Common Causes of Backseat Injuries?
Backseat passengers are at an increased risk of suffering severe injuries in a car accident for the following reasons:
- Back-seat passengers are less likely to wear a seat belt than front-seat passengers. Studies have shown that people often think the back seat is safer than the front seat.
- Backseat passengers are more likely to have a false sense of security, where they believe they are safer in the back seat. As a result, they may lay down while unbelted, have other passengers sit on their laps, or try to fit too many passengers in the back seat.
- Older vehicles do not have the more advanced seat belt designs, including shoulder straps and crash tensioners. Lap and shoulder belts reduce the risk of severe injuries and fatalities by over 50 percent for outboard and middle-seat passengers and up to 75 percent for those passengers riding in minivans, SUVs, and pickup trucks.
- Back seats are generally not equipped with airbag systems and other safety features that the front seat has. However, many car manufacturers are testing airbags that would deploy out of the back of the front seats.
- Passengers riding in the backseat of a ridesharing vehicle are less likely to wear their seat belts.
Is the Back Seat the Safest Place for Passengers?
It is a common misconception that the back seat is safer than the front seat since much of the crash energy is dissipated from the front seat to the back seat. That means the front seat passengers experience most of the force, particularly in frontal crashes. However, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the back seat is no longer the safest place to sit. The front seat is safer due to the safety improvements made over the last decade, although this does not mean that the back seat has gotten more dangerous. It simply means that the front seat has continued to benefit from safety advances while the back seat has remained the same.
What Safety Tips Can I Follow When Riding in the Back Seat?
Car accidents can happen when you least expect it, even if you take every safety precaution and obey the rules of the road. You cannot control how other motorists drive or other factors beyond your control. However, if you are riding in the back seat, you can reduce the risk of a severe injury if you follow these safety tips:
- Wear your seat belt: It is proven that seat belts save lives. That includes passengers sitting in the back seat. Always buckle up, whether riding in the back seat of a family member’s car or an Uber or Lyft vehicle.
- Sit in the middle: The middle seat is the safest place to sit unless it is in an older vehicle that does not have a shoulder belt. If this is the case, sit in one of the outer seats with a lap and shoulder belt.
- Stay in your seat: Do not move around in the back seat, sit on another passenger’s lap, or try to fit too many people in the back seat. If there are more passengers than there are seat belts, there are too many people in the back seat, which increases the risk of severe injuries in the event of a car accident.
- Secure loose objects: Make sure that you secure objects like your purse, laptop, water bottles, and cell phone while riding in the back seat. These items can cause severe injuries if you are involved in a car accident and they go hurling through the air during a high-speed collision.
What Should I Do if I am Injured in a Car Accident?
If you were injured in a car accident while riding in the back seat, take the following steps:
- Call 911 and notify dispatch that there was an accident involving injuries.
- If possible, take pictures of the accident scene, including your injuries and property damage.
- Exchange information with the other parties involved.
- Seek immediate medical attention for your injuries.
- Contact a car accident lawyer.
Our Cincinnati Car Accident Lawyers at Wolterman Law Office Represent Injured Backseat Passengers
If you or a loved one was seriously injured in a car accident while riding in the back seat, contact our Cincinnati car accident lawyers at Wolterman Law Office for legal assistance. To schedule a free consultation, call us at 513-488-1135 or contact us online. Located in Loveland, Ohio, we serve clients in Hamilton County, Fairfield, Norwood, and Forest Park.