subject: Reclining Your Seat In Your Car Could Bring More Than Just Comfort [print this page] Let's face it, sitting in a car for a long period of time is not the most comfortable thing in the world. Sometimes you want to rest, stretch out as far as possible, or even take a relaxing nap. This usually means that you are reclining your passenger seat in order to get as comfy as you can while confined in your vehicle. While many of us do this, I'm sure a lot of us are unaware that doing so puts you at much greater risk to be seriously or fatally injured if involved in a car accident.
Dr. Eileen Bulger, Director of Emergency Services at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, explained what can happen if your seat is reclined while involved in an accident. "You can impact your chest, you can have fractures of the spine, you can have head injury for your head kind of whipping forward, as well. And, then the severe injuries to the legs come from sliding forward into the dash board."
Bulger recently compiled statistics and data that provided concerning results. The study showed that passengers who partially recline their seats, if involved in an accident, increase their risk of death by 15 percent. The risk of mortality in car accidents increases by a whopping 70% if your seat is fully reclined. Perhaps the main reason for this is because reclining your seat makes airbags and seatbelts much less effective.
Dr. Adrian Lund the president of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety said, "having the seat reclined means you're not protected the way the vehicle was designed to protect you."
While many may be unaware of these dangers, one accident survivor hopes his story will help shine light and knowledge on the issue. Prashant Kumar was in a car accident with his seatbelt fastened and seat reclined. "I chose to recline my seat because I wanted a bit of sleep and rest and thought it would help," said Kumar." The result of the accident resulted in failure of Kumar's heart, liver, lung and kidney. He also was in a coma for two and a half months and lost both of his legs.
Kumar left us with one main wish, request and plea. He said, clearly filled with emotion, "Please, when you get into a car, I beg you, please do not recline your seat."."
We have all seen how devastating car accidents can be. So if there are ways to keep our selves safer, we should not ignore them. Please take Kumar's warning seriously and do not recline your seat while in your vehicle. The bottom line is, the risks and dangers to no outweigh the benefits of your comfort.
