A fatal car accident happened in the afternoon of Monday, March 6, 2017. The driver of the only vehicle involved in the crash was ejected from her car, and was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident highlights the dangers of being thrown from your car during a crash, and the importance of wearing a seatbelt.
Fatal Car Accident in Polo, Missouri
The single-vehicle accident happened just two miles north of Polo, Missouri, a small town 60 miles southeast of St. Joseph and 50 miles northeast of Kansas City.
36-year-old Misty Kapitza, a native of Polo, was driving northbound on Highway 13 when she lost control of her vehicle around 3:30pm. She went over the centerline and over the far side of the road. There, she hit a culvert and her car, a Dodge Ram, went airborne and overturned. During the crash, Kapitza was ejected from the vehicle. When emergency crews arrived shortly after the accident, they pronounced Kapitza dead at the scene.
Ejections are Dangerous
This terrible car accident showcases how dangerous it can be to get ejected during a crash. When a crash happens, your vehicle provides lots of protection. When you’re thrown from your vehicle, though, you lose all of that. After being thrown from your car, you’re often disoriented from the ejection, making it almost impossible to avoid the dangers all around you. Additionally, without the thousands of pounds of your car surrounding you and protecting you, you’re left very vulnerable.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) studied fatal car accidents that happened between 2003 and 2007. Out of the fatal car accidents that involved someone being thrown from their vehicle, the ejected person was the crash’s fatality more than three out of four times. Additionally, the study found that the notion that you can be “ejected to safety” in a crash was a myth: Only 0.2% of the people who were thrown from their cars were unhurt.
Using Your Seatbelt Keeps You Inside Your Car
The best way to ensure you don’t get thrown from your car in a crash is to wear your seatbelt. The NHTSA’s study found that 86% of the people who were thrown from their cars were not wearing their seatbelt in the collision.
Nevertheless, Missouri has one of the lowest seatbelt usage rates in the country. Another survey done by the NHTSA found that 87% of people used seatbelts, nationwide. However, only 78.8% of people in Missouri said they used them, putting our state 43rd in the country.
St. Joseph Car Accident Attorneys at the Smith Law Office
Car accidents often lead to serious or even fatal injuries. These can change your life, as well as the lives of your family members. They can also prevent you from bringing in the income that you and your family are depending on.
Having the personal injury lawyers at the Smith Law Office on your side can help you get you the compensation that you and your family need. Contact us online or at (816) 875-9373 to get the legal representation you deserve.