We’ve all done this before. You’re settling in for a long ride, or perhaps you just feel more comfortable with your feet propped up, even if you’re just driving a short distance. But what happens when you’re in this position when a collision occurs?
According to a few case studies, catastrophic injuries can occur, and it’s not pretty.
One Facebook post from a fire department in Tennessee claims that if you are sitting with your knees bent and your feet propped up against the dashboard when the airbags deploy, it can send your knees through your eye sockets. And these aren’t the only gruesome injuries that can occur in a Maryland car accident with feet on the dashboard.
But what is it precisely that makes sitting with your feet on the dashboard so dangerous? Let’s find out.
The Dangers of Putting Your Feet on the Dashboard
The problem with propping your feet on the dashboard is that they can be struck by the force of the airbag when it deploys in an accident. Airbags deploy at about 200 miles per hour, which is the average speed of a Formula One race car.
While many people argue that they could easily get out of this position if an accident were to occur, the fact is that an accident can happen when you least expect it, and airbags deploy in 15 to 40 milliseconds. No one is that fast. Unless you’re superhuman, you are not likely to be able to remove your feet from the dash before a collision occurs and the airbags deploy.
One woman in Georgia broke her nose, ankle, femur, and arm in an accident when the airbag deployed and threw her foot into her face.
In another story, a 22-year-old college student was resting with her feet on the dashboard while her boyfriend was driving. When the accident occurred, it forced her legs back into her face. The resulting injuries were a broken nose and eye socket, a dislocated jaw, broken feet, and she lost her spleen.
Another 22-year-old woman was also injured in a feet on the dashboard accident. Her knees were forced back, breaking almost every bone in her face, resulting in the loss of most of her forehead. She also suffered a cerebrospinal fluid brain leak and lost two teeth.
In 2020, a horrifying x-ray of a woman’s hip injury started circling the internet after she was injured in a car accident with her feet on the dashboard.
With such clear and convincing evidence, it’s safe to say that putting your feet on the dashboard is a very unwise decision.
Common Feet on the Dashboard Injuries
There are so many ways the body can be injured when you have your feet propped on the dashboard, as seen in the examples above. Overall, some of the most common feet on the dashboard injuries include:
- Knee injuries
- Hip Injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Thigh injuries
- Ankle injuries
- Face injuries
Not only can the injuries that result from a feet on the dashboard accident be horrific and life-altering, but they can also be incredibly expensive. Hospital bills and surgeries for these kinds of injuries don’t come cheap, which can leave you with mountains of medical debt. As such, it’s crucial that victims of these kinds of accidents work with an attorney to ensure they are fairly compensated for their personal injury car accident claim.
Who’s At Fault for a Feet on the Dashboard Accident?
If you intend to file a claim to recover compensation for your feet on the dashboard injuries, you will need to be able to prove that the accident was someone else’s fault. Of course, the act of putting your feet on the dashboard is a result of your own poor judgment. But if the accident was caused by someone else, such as another driver, you could still hold that driver liable and their insurance company would be responsible for paying your damages.
Keep in mind, however, that the insurance company may try to claim that your injuries might not have been as severe if you hadn’t carelessly placed your feet on the dashboard in the first place. So while they might own up to their client being at fault for the accident, they may try to argue their way out of paying you what you deserve by claiming that you are partially responsible for the severity of your own injuries.
This is why it’s crucial to work with an attorney in these cases. Your attorney can handle negotiations with the insurance company and make sure they do not get away with paying you less than you deserve if the accident was caused by someone else.
Have a Legal Question About a Feet on the Dashboard Accident? We Have Answers.
If you sustain an injury from a feet on the car accident accident in Maryland, the team at Zirkin & Schmerling can help you navigate your claim. Our compassionate team has experience handling a wide variety of Maryland car accident cases, and we are dedicated to ensuring every one of our clients gets the full and fair settlement they deserve.
Contact us or call us at 410-753-4611 to set up an appointment with one of our personal injury attorneys today.