As the weather starts to warm up, many of us are eager to take a drive. Cruising around town or enjoying a scenic drive with the music pouring out of the speakers and the windows rolled down can feel like heaven on earth.
We all know that wearing a seat belt while driving or riding is the law. When we’re getting ready for a longer drive, buckling up is probably the first thing we do. What about that quick trip down the street, though? As tempting as it may be to leave it off, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that most fatal crashes happen close to home and at speeds of less than 40 mph.
Why seat belts help
Seat belts have been the golden standard of vehicle safety for years. We understand now that properly-worn seat belts reduce the risk of catastrophic injury because:
- They can prevent a passenger from being ejected from the vehicle in a crash
- Airbags alone are not sufficient protection, and may actually cause even worse injury in the event of an unbuckled passenger
- Improperly worn seat belts could result in injury to limbs or internal organs if not placed properly across the chest and lap
Seat belts are an important defense against serious injury or death while driving or riding in a vehicle. Still, correctly wearing your seat belt cannot prevent other distracted or reckless drivers from causing an accident. If you sustain injuries due to someone else’s negligent driving, you may have grounds for a car accident injury claim.
