Some passengers like to ride with their feet up on the car’s front dash. They find this to be comfortable and relaxing. They may be especially prone to doing it on a long road trip when they have to spend hours in the car. Propping their feet up just makes it more enjoyable.
However, as comfortable as this can be, it’s not something that you should ever do. It can result in serious injuries if you’re involved in a car accident. As one trauma surgeon put it, it could cause “things like a ruptured bowel, a torn aorta and the spinal column itself can be torn apart…Injuries like that will paralyze [and] they may well kill.”
The impact of the airbag
One thing to remember is that the airbag is going to go off automatically in an accident. Most modern vehicles have airbags on the passenger side, and they come out with an incredible amount of force and at a terrific speed. This airbag can slam into someone’s legs, pushing their knees back toward their face as the rest of their body comes forward. This all happens in a split second, so there’s no way for the passenger to avoid it.
Other drivers cause accidents
One excuse people sometimes give is simply that they trust a driver. That person is a good driver, they drive safely, and they are unlikely to be involved in an accident. But the thing to keep in mind is that other drivers cause accidents all the time. You are only as safe as the drivers around you. If they make a mistake, you could be involved in a serious accident instantly.
If something like this does happen, you may need to seek financial compensation for your medical bills and other costs.