Buckle Up Because Seat Belts Save Lives | Seattle Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Lawyer

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With so many automobile accidents taking place in our state during this time of year, it is important to be prepared in every way possible. Emergency preparadness begins with wearing your seat belts. Wearing a seat belt is common sense to some, but a chore or annoyance to others and they ignore the fact that a seat belt could one day save their life. The following statistics are from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA):

80% of all deaths to children in a motor vehicle accident could be prevented by properly securing the safety harnesses and seat belts. (James Madison University)
As many as 17,000 people could be saved every year by wearing a seat belt. (James Madison University)

For survivors, average medical costs are 50% higher for those not wearing a seat belt. (Car-Accidents.com)

Only 1% of passengers who were restrained were ejected from car seats during a car crash. Of those ejected (restrained and unrestrained), 73% were killed. (Naval Safety Center)

For a passenger who is traveling in the backseat at the time of their car accident, wearing a seat belt is 44% more effective at preventing death than riding without a seat belt.

For those riding in the back of vans and SUV’s during a car crash, rear seat belts are 73% better at preventing fatalities.
Studies have shown that victims are not properly restrained in more than fifty percent of all fatal automobile accidents.

The NHTSA composes an annual report with end of the year seat belt statistics. This year they found some positive trends:

-Seat belt use in 2009 stood at 84 percent, a gain from 83 percent use in 2008.

-Seat belt use for occupants traveling during weekends increased to 86 percent in 2009 (83% in 2008), which shows a significant annual increase.

-Seat belt use continues to be higher in the States in which vehicle occupants can be pulled over solely for not using seat belts (“primary law” States) as compared with the States with a weaker enforcement law (“secondary law” States).

Statistics like these show that seat belts save lives and that more people are beginning to realize this. When operating your vehicle on the road, you can be as safe and cautious as possible, but you have no control over the people around you. Because of this, you want to be prepared for anything, and perhaps the best way to do this is to wear your seat belt at all times.

This information is provided by www.straighttalklaw.com, where you can order free books on Washington auto accidents, auto insurance, and other valuable legal information, offered as a public service by myself and my law practice in Seattle, Washington.