A car accident just north of St. Joseph led to the serious injuries of two Northwest Missouri State football players. While likely weather-related, the crash also showcases the dangers of being ejected during a car accident. Using your seatbelt has been statistically shown to reduce the chance of being ejected in a crash.
Football Players Involved in Car Accident Near St. Joseph
The accident happened on Interstate 29, just five miles north of St. Joseph. Cole Forney and Jacob Vollstedt were heading southbound, into the city just before 8pm on the night of Tuesday, January 17, 2017. Their pickup truck, driven by Forney, hit a slick patch on the road and careened from the highway, hitting a concrete barrier.
The impact with the concrete barrier ejected Forney from the vehicle. The pickup truck then rolled over and burst into flames with Vollstedt inside.
Both players were rushed to Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph. Forney was listed as having serious injuries. Vollstedt sustained moderate injuries in the accident.
Ejections Often Lead to Serious or Fatal Injuries
One of the worst things that can happen during a car accident is getting ejected from your vehicle. In a crash, your vehicle provides an important protection against other vehicles or stationary objects. If you get ejected during a crash, you lose that protection, leaving you vulnerable.
Just how vulnerable it leaves you is shocking. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) studied fatal car crashes that happened between 2003 and 2007. In these fatal car accidents, there were 54,505 people who were ejected from their vehicle. 77.3% of the time, it was the person who got ejected that was the fatality in these crashes. Additionally, 15.1% of those who were ejected were listed as sustaining injuries there were described as “incapacitating.” 0.2% of the people who were ejected during a fatal accident during this time period were unhurt in the crash.
Seatbelts Frequently Prevent Ejections
These numbers show just how important it is to be inside your vehicle throughout the car accident. According to the NHTSA’s numbers, using your seatbelt is an excellent way to make sure this happens.
Among the 54,505 people who were ejected in a fatal crash between 2003 and 2007, 86% were not wearing their seatbelt at the time of the crash. This means that unrestrained occupants were more than 10 times more likely to be ejected in a crash.
St. Joseph Car Accident Attorneys at the Smith Law Office
Being ejected from your vehicle often leads to more serious injuries than you otherwise would have suffered in the crash. This can make your recovery longer and more expensive, making it even more important to have a personal injury attorney at your side to ensure you get the compensation you need and deserve.
The personal injury attorneys at the Smith Law Office in St. Joseph fight for the rights and interests of those who have been hut in a car accident in St. Joseph, Kansas City, and Springfield. Contact us online or at (816) 875-9373.