It was nearly a year ago when Princeton mathematician John Nash and his wife were killed in a taxi accident on the New Jersey Turnpike. You may recall that the movie “A Beautiful Mind” was based on Nash’s life.
News reports indicate the couple were seated in the backseat of the taxi. Neither were wearing seatbelts. When the taxi driver attempted to pass another vehicle, it collided with the car.
Mr. and Mrs. Nash were ejected from the cab. They were pronounced dead at the scene.
Could they have survived the accident if they weren’t ejected? Quite possibly. The taxi driver had to be pulled out of the car. However, his injuries were not considered life threatening. A passenger in the other vehicle reported some neck pain.
Of course, we’ve all heard the horror stories of people entrapped in vehicles. They happen for all types of reasons. People may be unable to release their seatbelts. The result of an accident may make it impossible to open a vehicle’s door. Extrication may be necessary.
Ejection v. Entrapment Accidents
There’s a theory among some people. They want to be as far away from an accident as possible. They figure if they’re wearing their seatbelt they’ll be too confined. WRONG!!! WRONG!!! WRONG!!!!
It’s not just the LAW!
Here’s a study you might find of interest. It talks about the idea that some people bank on the prospect of being thrown clear from the accident. Maybe they’re thinking the car will erupt into flames? Or, fall into a body of water? We’re not sure.
In reality, statistics show that those who are thrown from a car will suffer very severe injuries. At least twenty percent of ejection accidents will actually result in fatalities.
We think that’s a pretty big risk to take.
But, we also understand it happens. It’s easy to forget to throw on the seatbelt if you’re seated in the backseat of a car. Especially if it’s a taxi. Or, if you’re traveling at a slow rate of speed.
Now, let’s take a look at entrapment accidents. We think of these from a couple of perspectives. There are the times where it seems impossible to release the seatbelt. It may be because of a malfunction. It may also be because the occupant was not conscious. (In which case, they would not be able to get out of the car without assistance.)
Those who become entrapped in vehicles often find themselves there because of fire or submersion. Studies show that seatbelt use does little to change the situation.
Contact Us
Were you involved in a car crash of any kind? And suffered personal injury? You would most likely benefit from the legal advice of an experienced attorney. At the Law Offices of Anthony Carbone, we have handled these types of matters for many years. Contact us to discuss your case.