Do Seat Belts Really Save Lives?

For many decades, seat belt use has been the focus of driver safety campaigns. For many of us, wearing a seat belt is second nature. We buckle up as soon as we get into the car.

Then there are those who absolutely hate seat belts. They feel restricted by them and as  a result, refuse to wear them, even though it is against the law to do so. Of the 50 states, 49 require drivers and passengers to wear them. New Hampshire is the only exception.

So you may wonder: Do seat belts really save lives? They absolutely do. Studies show that the risk of serious injury or death increases when a person does not wear one.

In 2022, 25,420 vehicle occupants were killed in car accidents. Of those, roughly 50% were not wearing a seat belt.

It is important to not only wear a seat belt while in a vehicle, but also wear it properly. Improperly wearing a seat belt puts you at risk of injuries in a crash. You should never put the shoulder belt behind your back or under an arm. The lap belt should rest across your hips, not your stomach. The lap belt and shoulder belt should be secured across the pelvis and rib cage. Also, you should place the shoulder belt across the middle of your chest and away from your neck.

Seat belt use is critical in an accident. One of the most important benefits of buckling up is that it keeps you secure inside your vehicle. If you do not buckle up, you could move around your vehicle in a crash. You could even be ejected from the vehicle, which is almost always fatal.

If you do buckle up, you are taking a huge step toward protecting yourself. If you buckle up in the front seat of a passenger car, you can reduce your risk of moderate to critical injury by 50% and fatal injury by 45%.

Even if your car or truck has air bags, those are not enough to protect you. Seat belts are designed to be used in tandem with air bags. Air bags deploy with a lot of force, so if you are not buckled up, an air bag can seriously injure or even kill you.

Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer

Seat belts may seem like an inconvenience for some people, but this equipment really saves lives. Plus, seat belt use is required in almost all states, so it’s not something you can avoid (unless you live in New Hampshire).

Whether you were wearing a seat belt or not, a Houston car accident attorney from The West Law Office, PLLC can assist you with the effects of a crash. Our goal is to make sure that our clients receive the maximum amount of compensation for their injuries. Schedule a consultation today by filling out the online form or calling 281-347-3247.

Source:

nhtsa.gov/vehicle-safety/seat-belts#:~:text=Wearing%20a%20seat%20belt%20keeps,chance%20of%20surviving%20a%20crash.