Route 257 Rockingham County Accident: The Importance of Seat Belt Usage
One of the most important choices that drivers and passengers can make is to use their seat belts while operating or riding in a vehicle. Recently, many drivers in the United States are beginning to understand the importance of using their seat belts. In 2018, the national seat belt use rate was 89.6%. Recently, a Route 257 Rockingham County accident demonstrates the importance of seat belt usage.
In 2017, there were 37,133 fatalities resulting from automobile crashes in the U.S. Out of those fatalities, 47% of the drivers and passengers involved were not wearing their seat belts. It is clear that seat belt usage in those fatal crashes would have likely reduced the number of fatalities and injuries significantly.
It’s important to recognize that air bags ARE NOT ENOUGH to protect you. In fact, the force of an air bag can seriously injure or even kill you if you are not wearing a seat belt. Air bags are designed to WORK WITH seat belts, not replace them.
As a front seat passenger in a car, you can reduce your risk of fatal injury by 45% and moderate to critical injury by 50% if you wear a seat belt. If you are a driver or passenger in a light truck, you can reduce your risk of fatal injury by 60% and moderate to critical injury by 65% if you wear your seat belt.
Route 257 (Briery Branch Road) Accident
A recent crash on Route 257 in Rockingham County demonstrates the value of wearing seat belts. WHSV-TV3 is reporting that on December 4, 2019 at 12:08 a.m., a 21-year-old was driving on Route 257 (Briery Branch Road) when he lost control of his vehicle, over-corrected, ran off the left side of the road, collided with a mailbox, and then hit two trees before overturning.
None of the three people in the car were wearing seat belts. All three were ejected from the vehicle, and one died at the scene.
If you have children, NEVER GIVE UP UNTIL THEY BUCKLE UP! Ensuring that your children are securely buckled in your car could mean the difference between life and death. Make it a RULE from a young age that they are always buckled while riding in car.
Seat belts save lives. You can’t control the actions of other drivers, but you can control whether you protect yourself with a seat belt. Take the extra second required to snap your seat belt in place before starting your car. Your family will thank you for it!
Talk with a Car Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one suffered significant injuries at the hands of a negligent driver, the Ritchie Law Firm is here to help. The experienced, certified attorneys at the Ritchie Law Firm has helped thousands of injured victims and their families recover the compensation they deserve after an accident. Contact us by phone at 800-277-6124 or by using our online contact form.
Ritchie Law Firm is a personal injury law firm devoted to helping individuals who have suffered serious and catastrophic injuries or lost a loved one as a result of someone else’s negligence. Ritchie Law Firm serves all of Virginia, while helping clients in cities and surrounding areas of Harrisonburg, Charlottesville, Staunton, and Winchester also serves clients in West Virginia, including Martinsburg, WV.
