One hidden type of car accident involves children tumbling from moving cars.  Ususaly this happens when an unbuckled child opens the door and tumbles out of it.  Other times children are thrown out an open window when the driver takes a curve too hard or fast, or they tumble out the back of an open pick-up truck.  In any case, its yet one more reason to take seatbelt use seriously.

Kids Falling From the Back of Pick-up Trucks
In Hardin, Montana, a 12-year-old girl died after falling from a tool box and hitting her head while riding in the back of a pick-up truck. The accident occurred on the Crow Reservation. (USA Today, 8-31-2016)

Girl Tumbles From Car
In Springfield, Missouri, a 3-year-old girl was recovering from road burns after tumbling from her mother’s moving vehicle while she was driving on a county road north of the town. Sheriff’s deputies said the girl’s mother called 911 to report that the girl had jumped from the car near the Fellows Lake Recreational area. The child turned up at a neighbor’s home and was taken to a hospital for treatment. (USA Today, 7-1-2008, p. 6A)

Unrestrained Boy Opens Door of SUV
In Omaha, Nebraska, a 3-year-old boy fell from a moving vehicle after opening the door himself. He was not in a car seat, and died from his injuries at a hospital less than a month later. He and two brothers were riding in the back seat of the SUV, which had only 1 car seat. The mother was ticketed for failing to properly restrain her 3 children and negligent child abuse. (USA Today, 7-30-2008, p. 9A)

– Learn More About Car Safety For Kids

Boy Jumps From Moving School Bus
In Arizona, a 10-year-old boy was left fighting for his life after jumping out the back of a moving school bus.  Officials were not sure what caused the special needs student to run to the back of the bus, Open the door, and jump out. The bus was traveling about 15 to 20 miles per hour at the time; an example of how a vehicle doesn’t need to be traveling fast in order to cause serious injury.  (3/5/2015)

Kid Takes Tumble in TV Heist
In Falmouth, Massachusetts, a 5-year-old boy fell out of a moving SUV as his caretakers tried to speed away with a stolen television. Apparently, the car door was left open because the TV, recently stolen from the Falmouth Mall was too big to fit inside the vehicle.  Just one more reason you shouldn’t take your kid with you on mall heists.  At least not until you’ve had them watch Ocean’s Eleven a few dozen times.

Additional information on car safety for children.