Motor vehicles are equipped with a wide range of new, cutting-edge safety features, but despite the great strides that have been made in technology, no other safety feature matches the benefits a seat belt can provide. It estimated that seat belts save as many as 13,000 lives every year. Unfortunately, many continue to neglect using this simple, life-saving feature in their vehicles, whether as passengers or drivers.
Below are some common myths that often play a part in why so many individuals choose not to buckle up:
- Seat belts are not comfortable: Seat belts should not cause discomfort when adjusted properly. If you truly need to customize the fit of your seat belt to feel comfortable, you can find clips and extenders at a local dealer or an auto parts store. For children, you should make sure that the shoulder belt fits across the shoulder and chest, and the lap belt should fit across the child’s upper thighs. Only a belt that is not properly adjusted will seem uncomfortable or restrictive, so make sure you take a moment to adjust yours if you are experiencing discomfort.
- A seat belt will trap you in your vehicle during a collision: Despite the fact that accidents involving fire or water only account for less than half a percent of all crashes, this is a big myth that many people believe in. People often worry that they will unable to escape their vehicle if it is on fire or is somehow submerged in water, but the truth is that a seat belt will help prevent you from being knocked unconscious. This means that you will have a far better chance of escaping your vehicle during an accident.
- If your destination is nearby, you have no need for a seat belt: Routine trips are actually some of the most dangerous and, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), most traffic-related deaths tend to happen within 25 miles of one’s home at speeds less than 40 mph. When you are around familiar surroundings, engaging in routine tasks, you are more likely to let your guard, which is when mistakes are most likely to happen.
- I do not have the time to buckle my seat belt: It takes no more than three seconds to put on your seat belt, which is less time than you will spend lacing up your shoes. You could theoretically buckle up 20 times a day and still only end up spending a single minute.
- My car has air bags, so I do not need to wear a seat belt: Air bags are wonderful safety features, but they are designed to protect buckled passengers. A seat belt secures you in a position that allows you to benefit from a deploying air bag and, if you are not wearing your seat belt, you risk sliding underneath it, colliding with the dashboard or windshield, or even from being ejected from the front seat. Remember, air bags provide supplemental protection. Your primary source of protection will come from your seat belt.
- It is better to be ejected away from the wreckage of an accident: While it might seem like a great idea to be flung clear of the wreckage, the reality is that you are four times more likely to be fatally injured if this were to happen to you.
Personal Injury Attorney in Las Vegas
If you were recently involved in an accident that was caused by the negligent or careless actions of another party, now is the time to obtain the skilled car accident representation you need to secure the fair compensation you deserve. At Shook & Stone, our Las Vegas legal team treats every case as unique and always makes it a point to be accessible to our clients whenever they are in need.
For the legal support you need, contact our office today at (702) 385-2220 to schedule a free case evaluation.
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