Few games are more dangerous than “car surfing,” or riding on the outside of a moving car, SUV or pickup truck. The craze is growing in popularity, but, sadly, car surfing nearly led to the death of a teenager in Gastonia, North Carolina (NC), who sustained a serious head injury on September 12, 2011.
North Carolina Highway Patrol reported that two students were hanging onto the roof rack of a Nissan pickup truck driven by a 17-year-old when the injury accident occurred at Forestview High School on Union Road. WBTV.com reported that witnesses saw the driver reaching speeds of 20 to 30 mph in the school’s parking lot.
Patrick Newcombe suffered a skull fracture and concussion. He was said to be drifting in and out of consciousness but is likely to recover from the accident. The student may have been lucky, but the experienced North Carolina (NC) traumatic brain injury attorneys wth our law firm have reported at length on the serious long-term effects of a concussion.
Also, car surfing has claimed lives. In February one of my colleagues noted that a teen killed in a fiery wreck in Florida (FL) may have been standing on the running board of an SUV. Such accdents prompted Florida lawmakers to make car surfing a criminal offense.
See this video about the dangers of car surfing.
Teens are in the highest risk group for distracted driving, be it talking on cell phones or texting. When teens are involved in a wide range of irresponsible and distracted driving activities, those hurt — be they passengers in the car or other drivers on the road — could have a legitimate claim for compensation if they are injured.
DM