Using your seat belt is the most important safety measure you can take to protect yourself in the event that you are in an auto accident. Using your seatbelt helps keep you safe and secure inside your vehicle. Seat belts are also the best defense against impaired, aggressive, and distracted drivers.
According to NHTSA, the overall seat belt use rate in 2014 was 87 percent. Additionally, more than half of vehicle occupants in 2012 that were killed in an auto accident were not wearing a seat belt. Research has found that seat belts, when used properly, reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by 45 percent and the risk of moderate-to-critical injury by 50 percent.
How to Properly Wear Your Seat Belt
Your shoulder harness should be worn across the shoulder and chest with minimal slack. Never wear it behind your back or under your arm; improper seat belt use could actually contribute to serious internal injuries in an auto accident. The lap belt should be snug and low across your hips. And, remember, while air bags offer additional protection, they are not a substitute for seat belts. For example, in a rollover crash, an air bag won’t keep you in your seat.
How to Properly Secure Your Children in the Car
- Properly position the harness on your child.
- Rear-facing – Harness straps should lie flat, not twisted, and be placed through the slot that is at or below your child’s shoulders.
- Forward-facing – Harness straps should lie flat, not twisted, and be placed through the slot that is at or above your child’s shoulders.
- Buckle the harness and the chest clip and tighten.
- Make sure the harness is snug enough so extra material cannot be pinched at the shoulder.
- Make sure the chest clip is at armpit level.
In the event that you’ve been injured due to an auto accident, you may have grounds for a legal claim for damages. For more information about auto accident representation, contact the Trinity auto accident attorneys of Fowkes & Hasanbasic, Accident and Insurance Lawyers today.
Fowkes & Hasanbasic, Accident and Insurance Lawyers represents consumers throughout Pasco County and Pinellas County, including residents of Trinity, New Port Richey, Port Richey, Hudson, Zephyrhills, Dade City, San Antonio, St. Petersburg, Seminole, Oldsmar, Treasure Island, Belleair Beach, Clearwater, Dunedin, Safety Harbor, Gulfport, Indian Shores, Pinellas Park, Tarpon Springs, and Largo.