Posted by the Charleston, SC Car Accident Attorneys at Anderson & Schuster, Attorneys at Law, LLC. Our Charleston auto accident lawyers are here to help those injured in car, truck and motorcycle accidents in Charleston and across South Carolina.
Not surprisingly, statistics show that seat belts save lives and prevent car accident injuries. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, wearing a seat belt when involved in an auto accident reduces the risk of fatal injury to front seat passenger car occupants by 45%, and reduces risk of moderate-to-critical car accident injuries by 50%. For those in the rear of vans and sport-utility vehicles during a car wreck, rear seat belts reduce the risk of fatality by 73%. In many fatal car and truck accidents, vehicle occupants are not properly restrained. A seatbelt must be used properly to avoid car accident injuries.
The NHTSA reports that seatbelt use in passenger cars in 2011 was 84%, virtually unchanged from 2010 and 2009. States like South Carolina with "primary laws" regarding seat belts had higher percentages of seat belt use. A primary seat belt law means you can be pulled over solely for not wearing one. In South Carolina, the fine for not wearing a seatbelt is $25. Also, South Carolina has one of the highest car accident rates in the nation, so seatbelt use is a must when driving on SC roadways.
There's little question that when you are involved in an auto accident, your chances of surviving the collision increase dramatically with seatbelt use. It's estimated that seatbelts saved the lives of almost 13,000 people involved in car and truck accidents in 2009 alone. Our auto accident attorneys urge you and your family to buckle up during your travels this holiday season.
Charleston Car Accident Lawyers
Our auto accident attorneys are here to assist those injured in car, truck and motorcycle accidents in Charleston, North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Summerville, Goose Creek, Hanahan, James Island, West Ashley, Isle of Palms, Sullivans Island, Folly Beach, Johns Island, Ladson, Awendaw, McClellanville, Moncks Corner and across South Carolina.
