Were You Wearing Your Seatbelt During the Crash?

Wearing a seat belt is, without doubt, the most effective thing you can do to protect yourself in the event of an automobile accident. Over 80 percent of vehicle occupants nationwide buckle up, saving over 13,000 lives each year.

That leaves 20 percent who don’t – and the consequences are often devastating.

Protecting Yourself with a Seatbelt

If you work out the math, an additional 3,250 lives could be saved each year. One of those lives could be yours. Seat belts, like most things, are most effective when used properly. Many people who don’t buckle up don’t realize that:

• Airbags are not a replacement for your safety belt. The force of a deploying airbag can seriously injure a person who isn’t buckled in.
• Everyone should use a seatbelt, including pregnant women, kids, and every other person who sets foot in the car.
• If you’re irregularly shaped, you can contact your auto manufacturer for seat belt adjusters or extenders for a better, safer fit.
• A properly worn seatbelt is your best defense in any crash. The lap belt should be secure across your hips and pelvis, not the soft part of your midsection. The shoulder belt should cross your rib cage and lay flat over your shoulder. Never tuck the shoulder belt under your arm.

Don’t Be a Statistic

Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show that some of us are less likely to buckle up and more likely to suffer serious injury (or even death) in the event of a crash.

• Young drivers, age 16-24, have the lowest rate of seatbelt use of any age group.
• Male motorists are less likely than females to use a safety belt.
• Drivers traveling alone are less likely to buckle up than drivers with passengers.

It only takes one brief error by one driver to cause a crash, and it doesn’t have to be your mistake to hurt or kill you. Buckle up every time. “Most of the time” may not be enough.

If You Are Injured in a Crash Because You Weren’t Wearing a Seatbelt

It’s important to know that not wearing a seatbelt doesn’t mean you can’t hold the person responsible for the crash accountable for what they’ve done. If you or a loved one is in this situation, please contact a caring personal injury lawyer who focuses on car accident victims right away.