The Danger of Feet on the Dashboard
It is not unusual, particularly on long summer road trips, to see front seat passengers with their feet on the dashboard.
Passenger side front airbags are standard in any vehicle built after 1998. In the event of a collision exceeding a certain threshold (typically 25-40 KM/h), they deploy from the dashboard at exceptionally high speeds. The speed of the airbag is necessary to be effective in preventing a passenger from striking their head on the dashboard.
While an airbag is effective in the case where a passenger is seated appropriately, in the case where a passenger has their feet on a dashboard even a minor collision can be disastrous. It is not uncommon for a passenger sitting with their feet on the dashboard to suffer severe foot fractures, facial fractures or traumatic brain injuries due to the speed of the deployment of the airbag.
In the event that a passenger sues an at fault driver for compensation arising from these injuries, the passenger could be held partially responsible for their injuries for failing to take care for their own safety.
The injuries that can be caused by travelling with your feet on the dashboard can be devastating and life-changing. It is just not worth the risk.
About the Authors
The son of a grocery store clerk, Kevin grew up outside of Perth, Ontario. He credits his humble beginnings with the development of his underdog mentality, an approach he has carried into his legal career.
He attended McMaster University for two years before being granted early admission to Osgoode Hall Law School. After being called to the bar in 2008, Kevin began practising law in Hamilton before joining a leading Toronto litigation firm, representing Canada’s largest insurance companies on personal injury actions. “I didn’t find it fulfilling,” Kevin recalls. “I was helping companies save money, when what I wanted to do was help the people going up against these major corporations.” Since joining Oatley Vigmond, Kevin has used his insurance-industry experience to protect his clients and recover the compensation they deserved. He’d been at Oatley Vigmond for two months when he settled a matter for a client at a mediation. “You felt the burden of the litigation, and her injuries, lifting off her. I wanted to help even more people experience the relief of having their uncertainty lifted.’”