Hardesty, Tyde, Green & Ashton, P.A. blog

Saturday, December 02, 2006

Seat Belt Use is Critical

Seat belt use is a critical first step in saving lives in motor vehicle crashes. Many states including Florida have enacted seat belt laws requiring seat belt use. The results have been significant in the prevention of ejection type injuries or death. This link contains the latest government statistics on seat belt usage. http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-30/NCSA/RNotes/2006/810677.pdf

The use of a seat belt often becomes a critical issue in a personal injury or wrongful death case. Insurance companies almost always try and establish lack of or improper use of a seat belt to limit or avoid their obligation to crash victim for their injuries. If you are involved in a car or truck accident it is extremely important that the investigating officer and documents in the accident report that the vehicles seat belts were used. Inaccuracy of this important fact can damage a victims claim for injuries even though the driver of the other vehicle caused the crash.

posted by Attorney W. Marc Hardesty at 3:41 AM