By Pendergast Law on September 3, 2010
Seattle Personal Injury Lawyer Urges Proper Seat Belt Use After a High Speed Collision Leaves a Washington State Woman without Seatbelt in Critical Condition
A 19-year old woman is in critical condition after being ejected from her vehicle during a collision on Evergreen Parkway in Olympia, Washington State. The woman failed to negotiate a left hand curve on the roadway, causing the vehicle to roll over and eject her from the car. Four occupants in her car suffered minor injuries.
Remember, seat belts save lives. In the overwhelming majority of car crashes, you have a greater chance of surviving if you’re wearing a seat belt – it is also the law in Washington. In fact, seatbelts are the most effective safety devices in vehicles today, saving an estimated 9,500 lives each year.
Worn properly, seat belts prevent you from being thrown around the inside of a crashing vehicle or, worse, thrown through the windshield or out of the vehicle. Studies show that more than half of all accident fatalities were people who weren’t using seat belts. Even a low-speed crash can send you careening into the dashboard or side window, resulting in severe head injuries or broken bones. The results are even worse for young drivers and passengers.
But that is the key, seat belts must be worn properly. Your lap belt should be securely wrapped around the waist, resting on bone. If it is pulled across the soft part of your stomach, it could penetrate the skin and even drive into your body in an extreme accident, causing injury or even death.
If your seat belt has a shoulder strap, it should rest securing on the front of your body and on the collar bone. If it is placed on the neck, it could be a fatal consequence in an accident, or in a more minor collision.
Improperly worn seat belts can result in a $124 ticket under the Washington State seatbelt law. Do you always wear your seat belt and buckle it properly? And do you make sure all your passengers are wearing one? Taking the time to do this reduces every passenger’s risk. And on long trips, be sure to monitor children constantly to keep them from removing it and moving around the vehicle.
If you or a loved one is ever involved in a serious caused by someone else’s negligence, you could be able to file a personal injury claim and get compensation for your injuries. If you think you have a claim contact our Seattle personal injury attorneys for a free consultation.