Quite simply wearing a seat belt can save your life and reduce the risk of serious injury. It is estimated that more than 15,000 lives a year are saved in the United States because drivers and passengers were wearing seat belts. People thrown from a vehicle are four times more likely to be killed than those that remain inside the vehicle.
Lap and shoulder seat belts are created to spread the force of any impact over a wide area of the body thus reducing the stress on any one area. They are designed to have contact with your body at the strongest parts and for adults and older children this is the hips and shoulders. In the event of a crash the shoulder part of the seat belt will help to keep your head and upper body away from all the hard parts of the vehicle, such as the dashboard and steering wheel. Children, however, need specialized protection, depending upon their age, and should always travel in a child safety seat or booster seat until they are old enough and tall enough to use the normal car seat belts.
Making sure you are wearing your seat belt correctly is critical to your protection. The lap strap should fit snugly over your hips and upper thigh area and not ride up on your stomach, which could cause serious injuries in the event on an accident. The shoulder belt should rest snugly across your chest and shoulders and between the breasts. Never place the strap under your arm, behind your back, or let the strap fall across your neck and face.
If you or someone you love has been have been seriously injured in an accident in North Carolina, please call the Concord accident attorneys of the McIntosh Law Firm at (704) 892-1699 or contact us online today to schedule your free consultation and learn more about you rights and how we can help.
