A deadly month on Florida roads serves as a reminder that Florida’s seat belt law is not an inconvenience – it is a lifesaver. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that while the use of seatbelts saved 769 lives in Florida in 2010, another 229 could have been saved if the people had buckled up.
Unfortunately, the Florida Highway Patrol has been called to far too many fatal accidents already this year due to lack of seat belt use. Near Naples, a man died Friday morning when he was ejected from his car after he lost control on a curve causing the car to flip. Earlier this month, a driver and his three passengers all died in a Florida automobile accident when they hit a tractor-trailer. None of the four deceased occupants had their seat belts fastened.
According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), 54 percent of the people killed in traffic accidents in 2010 were not wearing a seat belt, even though their vehicles had them. Florida’s seat belt law makes it a primary offense if the driver or front seat passenger is not wearing a seat belt, but far too many motorists still refuse to wear one.
Although a medical condition that prevents the use of a seat belt is the only valid excuse for not wearing one, drivers and their passengers can come up with plenty of reasons to avoid buckling up. Excuses such as “I forgot,” “I’m only going a short distance,” or “it’s uncomfortable” are common, yet clearly absurd excuses when your life, or that of a loved one, is on the line.
Many people fear that their seat belt will trap them in the car if an accident happens. However, the NHTSA reports that you are 25 times more likely to die if you are ejected from your vehicle because you didn’t use your seat belt.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that wearing a seat belt is the most effective way to prevent death and serious injury in a crash. In fact, the CDC found that seat belts reduce the risk of death by 45 percent, and cut the risk of serious injury by 50 percent. Yet one in seven people still don’t buckle up.
Florida driving laws, when followed and enforced, can help save lives. Our South Florida car accident lawyers don’t know how to make it any clearer – buckle up!
Contact an Experienced Florida Car Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in a Florida car accident due to the negligence or carelessness of another driver, seek experienced counsel. Attorney Philip DeBerard has three decades of legal experience representing people injured in car accidents, as well as handling other personal injury claims.
The law firm of Philip DeBerard, Injury Attorney, represents victims of car accidents and automobile crashes in Stuart, Jupiter, Port St. Lucie, Okeechobee, Fort Pierce, Palm Beach and Vero Beach. If integrity, dedication and compassion are what you seek in an accident lawyer, call Philip DeBerard. Choosing the right accident lawyer does make a difference.
Call 1-800-299-8878 to speak with a knowledgeable Florida car accident attorney or fill out our online contact form.
