Myths About Seat Belt Safety and Car Accidents

In every state across the country, it is against the law to drive without a seat belt, though every state classifies this offense differently. In some states, it is a primary offense, which means that you could potentially be pulled over by a law enforcement officer for failing to buckle up. In Massachusetts, seat belt laws are secondary, which means that if you are stopped by a law enforcement officer for a primary offense, such as driving above the speed limit, you can be ticketed for not wearing your seat belt.

Of course, the bigger concern every driver and passenger should have is the issue of safety. Seat belts save over 13,000 lives every year and yet, despite these statistics, countless individuals still neglect to wear them.

Many of the reasons why passengers and drivers alike fail to buckle up stem from myths. We have debunked many of the more common seat belt myths below:

  • Seat belts are not comfortable and restrict a person’s movement: Assuming your seat belt is correctly adjusted, this necessary safety feature should always fit comfortably and never make you feel constrained. If you are not buckling up because you feel that your seat belt is not fitting you properly, make some adjustments. The last thing you want to do is risk your life when your car is equipped with the perfect feature to help protect you.

  • Wearing a seat belt is a personal choice: Sure, it is your choice, but if you are injured or killed in a car crash, that personal choice is going to affect your family and loved ones.

  • Seat belts prevent you from escaping your car in the aftermath of a crash: Without a seat belt, you actually stand a much higher chance of being knocked out. Since you cannot escape your car if you are unconscious, it would be wise to buckle up.

  • It is better to be tossed out far from the wreckage during an accident: This might work well in the movies, but in real life, if you are thrown from your vehicle, you are four times more sustain a fatal injury.

  • It takes too long to buckle up dozens of times a day: It takes approximately three seconds to buckle up, so even if you have to do it 20 times a day, it will still only take up about a minute of your time. Surely your life is worth you sparing a minute.

  • Seat belts are unnecessary if you are driving at a low speed: During a frontal collision at 30mph, your body will continue to travel forward and into the vehicle’s frontal interior components if you are unbelted. To put this into perspective, this is essentially the same speed a person falling from a three-story building would experience when coming into contact with the ground.

Car Accident Attorney in Massachusetts

If you sustained injuries in a car accident that was caused by another party’s negligence, it is crucial that you seek the skilled legal assistance of a personal injury attorney. At Percy Law Group, PC, our team of car accident attorneys in Massachusetts have the experience and knowledge to guide you through this process to ensure that you are able to secure the compensation you need and deserve during this difficult time.

Get started on your case today and contact us at (508) 206-9900 to request your free initial case evaluation.