Your Seatbelt Could Save Your Life
Why is it important to always buckle your seatbelt?
Car accidents are one of the leading causes of death among children and adults in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Seatbelt use is perhaps the most effective way to reduce motor vehicle deaths, but millions of Americans continue to drive or ride in cars without buckling up. In 2015, over 22,000 people died in car crashes across the country. More than half of them were not restrained at the time of the accident. Our Marietta, Georgia car accident lawyers at Randall F. Rogers, PC discuss the importance of wearing your seatbelt below.
Seatbelts Significantly Reduce the Risk of Death and Injury
Seatbelts are believed to reduce the risk of death by 45 percent and the risk of serious injury by over 50 percent, as reported by the CDC. The primary purpose of seatbelts is to prevent drivers and passengers from being ejected from the vehicle during the crash. Those not wearing a seatbelt are 30 times more likely to find themselves ejected from the car, which can have deadly results.
Teens and young adults are most likely to not wear their seatbelt. Male drivers are statistically more at risk of serious injury or death in a crash, mostly due to not buckling up. Wearing your seatbelt is not just important for your own safety; it is also the law. In Georgia, all occupants in the front seats of the vehicle must wear a seatbelt. Failure to wear your seatbelt can result in a citation. Children in the backseat must be properly restrained as well.
Do Airbags Replace Seatbelts?
Some drivers and passengers may wonder whether a seatbelt is really necessary if their vehicle is equipped with airbags. The answer is resoundingly yes. Airbags are intended to work in conjunction with seatbelts. They cannot replace seatbelts. In fact, in a crash, when the airbags deploy, passengers that are unrestrained could be injured or killed due to the forward momentum into the airbag.
Wearing a seatbelt could not only save your life, but may also serve to preserve your personal injury case if you are injured in an accident. Contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible if you have been injured in a crash to explore your legal rights.
Posted in: Automobile Wrecks