If you live in the United States, you’ve most likely heard the phrase “click it or ticket”. Seatbelt safety is taken seriously because seatbelts are one of the most effective safety mechanisms in your vehicle. Have you ever wondered what makes seatbelts so important? Read on or reach out to a Corpus Christi, Texas Auto Accident Lawyer to learn more.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO WEAR A SEATBELT EVERY TIME YOU RIDE IN A CAR?

Seatbelts are designed to keep you securely fastened to your seat, which is essential when riding in or operating a motor vehicle. Without a seatbelt on, you are likely to unintentionally move around the vehicle or be ejected from your seat. This is because scientifically your body wants to match the speed of the car you’re in, but any sudden jerks or movements can cause you to continue moving forward and hit something. So if you aren’t wearing a seatbelt in the front seat and you stop abruptly or hit something, you are likely to fly forward and hit the wheel or dashboard or even worse, pummel through your front windshield. Statistics show that seatbelts save lives in the event of car accidents because about half of all car accident fatalities each year are caused by the victim not properly wearing their seatbelt.

You might think that airbags will be enough to protect you in an accident, but airbags are designed to work in tandem with seatbelts. The force of an airbag on an unbuckled driver/passenger could be damaging or even fatal. Your seatbelt will ensure that the airbag deploys properly and will distribute the force of the impact to the strongest parts of your body (torso and shoulders).

Seatbelts can even prevent car accidents from happening. Because seatbelts keep you in the ideal position to operate your vehicle, you could possibly slide around your seat if not buckled up properly. If your car begins to skid and this happens, you are much more likely to lose control of your car.

WHAT ARE TEXAS’S SEATBELT LAWS?

In Texas, anyone over 8 years old or over 4 feet 9 inches tall is legally required to wear a seatbelt. You could be fined up to $200 if you are caught not properly wearing a seatbelt. Children 8 years old and under are required to be properly fastened in a booster seat or approved car seat. Drivers could be fined up to $250 for riding with an unbuckled child.

If you’ve been involved in a car accident where someone wasn’t wearing a seatbelt, you might want to speak to an experienced auto accident attorney for legal advice. Contact Sahadi Legal Group today for quality legal counseling with one of our highly experienced lawyers!