Sometimes, car crashes are so significant that the trauma is something most people can’t imagine. There may be unusual circumstances that lead to particularly gruesome injuries or deaths, which is something no one wants to have to be a witness to.
In an Aug. 23 report, the severity of a person’s injuries drew into question the safety of guardrails in car crashes. The crash, which happened in Massachusetts, could have happened anywhere in the country. The guardrail impaled the vehicle upon impact after the driver swerved to miss an animal.
The guardrail went on to slice through the vehicle, causing injuries to two passengers. One, the front-seat passenger, had to be cut out of the vehicle. He suffered serious wounds. The other, a 4-year-old girl, was struck in the head by the guardrail while in her car seat. Fortunately, the driver was not seriously hurt.
Although previous news reported the dangers of the X-LITE guardrails, those were not involved in this case. This guardrail was made of stainless steel and had a rounded end. The Northbridge Highway Superintendent reported that it was an older model and wasn’t intended to absorb the shock of a crash in the way other, newer models do.
Situations like this can be a shock, particularly when it’s a guardrail that causes serious injuries. Like with other cases, if the device does not work properly or causes injuries to those inside, there could be a chance for the victims to claim compensation from the state or the manufacturer of the guardrail. There are always factors to consider, even in a single-vehicle crash.