Legal Help for New York Passengers Ejected from Vehicles
Being thrown from a moving vehicle is one of the most horrific things that can occur during an accident. While seatbelts are designed to prevent this, bad design or manufacturing can cause them to fail. Given the sheer amount of harm the victims can suffer, these accidents are often catastrophic, if not fatal. Survivors deserve compensation from the at-fault party to ensure a full recovery, but it may take an in-depth investigation to determine who is really responsible.
If you suffered serious injuries from being ejected from the vehicle in an auto accident, you should contact a New York passenger ejection attorney from Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP, immediately to learn about your rights. Our legal team has more than 50 years of combined experience and has recovered millions of dollars for our seriously injured clients. Defective vehicle and faulty auto parts cases are very challenging and should be handled by legal professionals with extensive knowledge and experience in these areas of law. Contact Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP, today at (212) 986-7353 and discuss your case with one of our New York car accident lawyers.
What Injuries Do Passengers Suffer?
An estimated 83% of ejection victims are killed in these collisions, according to the Insurance Information Institute (III). When looking at fatal accidents overall, 20% of passenger vehicle occupants and 33% of small truck occupants who were either partially or totally ejected died, as reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). For survivors, the outcome is bleak, with many suffering severe head and neck injuries, which can include brain damage and paralysis.
The injuries associated with occupant ejections are extremely painful and, many times, life-threatening. Below are just a few of the serious injuries that may result when a person is ejected from a moving vehicle:
- Amputation
- Brain injury
- Broken bones
- Burns, scarring and disfigurement
- Paralysis
- Spinal cord injury
- Neck injury
Many of these injuries have the potential to leave the victim with a life-altering disability requiring expensive and long-term medical treatments and therapies. Victims of occupant ejection accidents may no longer be able to perform the required duties to continue their employment, independently care for themselves, partake in their favorite hobbies, or have the opportunity to do the activities that they once loved. If you have suffered from catastrophic injuries following an occupant ejection accident, you should hold the auto manufacturer responsible for the injuries that you sustained due to the faulty and dangerous vehicle they produced.
What Causes Passenger Ejections?
A person may be ejected from the vehicle for a variety of reasons, including automotive defects. For example, faulty door latches may prevent the door from staying safely closed while the vehicle is in motion, causing an individual to be ejected from the vehicle. A recall was conducted recently on approximately 359,000 Ford Focus's due to door latches that were found to be defective.
Another possible cause for an occupant to be ejected from a vehicle is a rollover accident. Many rollover accidents involve SUVs, which have a high level of gravity, making them more prone to rollovers. It has been estimated that about half of all fatalities resulting from rollovers involve occupant ejections. Partial ejections are also possible during rollovers if side-windshields are made of weaker materials, and may cause a passenger to suffer severe lacerations and brain trauma.
The biggest indicator of passenger ejections is seatbelt use. Seatbelts have consistently proven their ability to protect occupants from suffering severe injuries in a collision, but only when designed properly. Weak webbing, broken locks, and random detachments can all cause a seatbelt to snap open during an accident, effectively making it useless. Vehicle occupants trust safety devices to protect them from harm, and when they fail, occupants deserve full compensation for their trauma.
Recovering Compensation in a Claim
If you or someone you love was injured in a passenger-ejection incident, you may be eligible for full compensation if a negligent manufacturer caused the ejection. These cases involve a lot of moving parts, as multiple manufacturers work on a vehicle’s individual components. However, if any single company acted negligently, then it should be the one to pay for your medical bills, lost wages, and long-term care.
To get the money you need to heal, you will need to file a product liability claim. Product liability claims require in-depth investigations to determine exactly who is at fault, be it an individual seatbelt manufacturer, car door designer, or other auto company. Whether the ejection resulted from a design or manufacturing defect, the legal team at Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP, can investigate your case and advocate for full compensation on your behalf.
Call a NY Product Liability Attorney at (212) 986-7353
After an event as traumatic as a passenger ejection, you shouldn’t have to worry about paying your medical bills, covering your lost wages, or dealing with a product liability claim. Instead, let the New York auto product liability attorneys at Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP, handle the legal burdens of your case. We have more than 50 years of combined experience and can review your case to determine who is responsible for your trauma. If an auto manufacturer or parts designer contributed to your injuries, we can hold them accountable. Call us immediately at (212) 986-7353 to discuss your case in a free consultation.
Additional Information
NY Vehicle Ejection Verdicts & Settlements
$1.3 Million - Car Accident With Passenger Ejection
$200,000 - Motorcycle Accident With Ejection