According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP), vehicle crashes are the number one cause of death for people between the ages of one and 54 in this country. Another 2 million people are injured in car accidents. However, study after study has proven that seat belts save lives.

When used correctly, seat belts cut down the number of car accident fatalities by 60 to 70 percent. Additionally, seat belts reduce how serious sustained injuries can be for car crash survivors.

Many injuries are caused when a person slams into parts of a vehicle’s interior during a crash, such as the steering wheel, dashboard, windshield, and doors upon crash impact. Moreover, fatal injuries can occur when victims are thrown from a vehicle in a crash because they were not wearing a seat belt. Wearing a seat belt, however, helps keep car occupants in place and may stop individuals from being ejected.

Yet, despite these studies, there are drivers and passengers who continue to refuse to buckle up. In 2012, more than half of the teenagers killed in crashes were not wearing seat belts.

The people most likely to not wear seat belts include the following:

• Adult males between the ages of 18 and 34 — Males are 10 percent more likely not to wear a seat belt than females;
• Adults who live in rural areas — Approximately 85 percent of adults who live in urban areas wear seat belts, compared to 78 percent of adults living in rural areas; and
• States which have secondary or no enforcement laws — States which have primary enforcement laws have a higher rate of citizens who use seat belts than those which have secondary or no enforcement laws.

The state of Connecticut has a primary seat law—all drivers, front seat passengers, and back seat passengers between the ages of 4 and 16 must wear a seat belt. An adult, 18 years or older, who fails to buckle up can be fined $92.00 for a first offense. For drivers and passengers under the age of 18, the fine is $120.00.

Although it is important for all individuals to wear a seat belt while in a vehicle, unfortunately, seat belt use will not prevent all injuries from occurring. As long as there are negligent and unsafe drivers on the roads, vehicle occupants are all at risk. However, wearing a seat belt can make all the difference in whether or not a person survives a crash or becomes a statistic.

Speak with an Experienced Connecticut Car Accident Injury Attorney Today

If you or a loved one sustained serious injuries in a motor vehicle accident, please contact an experienced Westport personal injury attorney to see what legal compensation you may be entitled to for your pain and loss.