- January 31, 2017
When you are hopping in your car to head to work, do you ever consider the position in which you sit in relation to the steering wheel? Chances are, you don’t. In fact, most drivers probably get behind the wheel without giving their driving position any thought. However, the placement in which you sit can actually be the difference between safety and serious injury in the event that you are involved in a car accident. This is due to the sensitivity and strength of steering wheel airbags.According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drivers should position themselves about 10 inches or more from the steering wheel in order to remain in a safer location due to impact and power that an airbag can produce when deployed. Much research reports that an airbag can expand at 200 miles per hour with roughly 2,000 pounds of force. Of course, this means that drivers can suffer serious if not fatal injuries if they are seated too closely to the steering wheel.
Because our Detroit personal injury lawyers care about your safety, we have listed some helpful tips to get you driving safer:
- Move your driver’s seat back
- Tilt the steering wheel slightly downward to avoid impact to the chest or face
- If you are seated closely due to height issues, consider having pedal adjusters installed
- Recline the top portion of the driver’s seat while maintaining current distance of the base of the seat
- If possible, have power adjustable pedals installed
Various car manufacturers have begun designing pedals that are power adjustable, giving drivers an additional three inches of length. Now, shorter drivers and drivers with shorter legs can adjust their brake, clutch, and gas pedals without moving their seats closer to the steering wheel and dash.
Our Team at Goodman Acker, P.C. Cares About Your Safety
At Goodman Acker, P.C., our Detroit personal injury lawyers genuinely care about yours and your family’s safety. Because we know that driving is a necessary part of almost every individual’s life, we do everything in our power to provide our clients with safety knowledge. Additionally, we stand ready to fight for the rights of those injured in serious accidents.
If you or someone you love has suffered harm in a collision and you believe another person should be held liable, we urge you to get in touch with our Detroit injury attorneys right away. We can examine the details of your case and determine which legal strategies can help you pursue maximum financial compensation. When we begin gathering evidence to support your claim, we will determine whether another driver or a manufacturer should be held responsible.
Do not wait another minute to get the help you need. Call Goodman Acker, P.C. today.