Do you feel like your car has become a sort of storage space? Have your kids left toys and water bottles strewn about? If you answered “yes” to either of these questions, then you might be putting yourself at an increased risk of being seriously injured or killed in a car accident.
After all, thousands of people are hurt each year by loose objects in their car that strike them when they’re involved in an accident.
Just how dangerous are loose objects in the cabin of a vehicle?
It depends on several factors, including the size and weight of the object as well as the speed at which the accident occurs. For example, a 20-pound object that goes flying in a crash occurring at 55 miles-per-hour can hit an individual with 1,000 pounds of force, which is enough to cut off a limb.
But being struck by a flying object in the cabin of your vehicle isn’t the only risk factor here. A water bottle might roll under your brake pedal, for example, making it impossible for you to stop in time to avoid an accident with the vehicle in front of you.
And looking for loose objects within the cabin of your car can also take your eyes off the road, putting you at a greater risk of being involved in a serious accident.
Don’t let loose objects create legal issues in your personal injury case
When you’ve been injured in an accident, you want to recover compensation for the harm that’s been caused to you. But if some of your injuries were the result of loose objects in the cabin of your vehicle, then the defense might try to deflect some of the blame back onto you.
Don’t let that happen. Store your loose items in the center console, the glove compartment, or the trunk of your vehicle. That way if you’re involved in a car accident, you’ll hopefully be in a stronger position to advocate for a fair outcome that’s right for you. And if you’ve already been in a wreck involving loose objects, then talk to your attorney to determine how to get a handle on the issue so that it doesn’t jeopardize your claim.