As drivers, we’re only responsible for our own driving. Though we can take measures to avoid other dangerous drivers on the road, their behavior is out of our control. Despite how safely we’re driving, we can still get into an accident at any time, which can result in injuries. However, there is something we have control over that can reduce the seriousness of the injuries we acquire. By sitting in your car properly and safely, you can avoid injuries and even possible death in a collision.

An example of failure to sit safely in a vehicle comes from a woman who, back in 2006, had her feet propped up on the dashboard while driving. When she skidded on black ice and hit a wall, the airbag below her feet forced her legs back into her face, breaking almost every single bone. She also suffered from a brain leak, also known as cerebrospinal fluid, that required extensive surgery, and she lost two teeth.

How to Stay Safe in a Vehicle

Preventing a catastrophic injury that requires surgery is as simple as putting your feet flat on the ground.

Common safety tips for driving or being inside a moving motor vehicle include:

• Adjusting the car seats: Make sure you can easily reach your pedals should you ever need to brake suddenly, and bring your seat to an upright position so your seat belt and airbags can be effective if they need to deploy. Even adjusting something as small as your headrest can prevent whiplash and head trauma.
• Buckling up: By wearing your seat belt according to the law, you can be prevented from being thrown from your vehicle in a car collision, resulting in injuries that can include head and brain trauma, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, and death.
• Sit up straight: Your posture plays a major role in determining the severity of your injuries in a car accident. Airbags and seat belts are designed to protect those who are sitting up straight in their seats. Don’t drive while lying back, and don’t rest your feet on the dashboard throughout the ride.
• Reposition your steering wheel: Make sure your steering wheel is pointed directly at your chest – if it’s not, the airbag won’t be as effective in protecting you in an accident.

Don’t Settle for Less

Injuries can be challenging to recover from, especially when you also have to worry about your finances if you’ve accrued medical bills and lost out on wages from missing work. Failing to act on your personal injury case can mean a longer recovery time, not to mention that when you do get around to your case, you could end up receiving far less compensation than you deserve. Act now simply by calling the car accident lawyers at Daspit Law Firm. We can act quickly on your case so we can recover your damages and send you on to lead an improved life.

Call Daspit Law Firm at (888) 273-1045, or contact us online if you’ve been injured in a car accident. Our personal injury attorneys can listen to your story and begin working on your case so you can focus on healing.