Ejection - The Leading Cause of Death in Automobile Accidents *

From on-scene investigations of 139 fatal automobile accidents during four years, it was found that of 177 persons killed, 48, or 27%, died by ejection, which is thus the leading cause of death. As would be expected, most (two-thirds) were ejected through opened doors; others were ejected through windshields, open convertible roofs, or door windows. From the investigations it is postulated that 80% of the ejection deaths would have been prevented had the ejectees worn seat belts.