Seats Belts Can Save Lives in a Car Accident

The Martinsville, VA Bulletin reported on September 1, 2013 that a 60-year old woman lost control of her 1991 Ford Escort while driving on Virginia Route 87. The vehicle ran off the road and then rolled into another vehicle stopped at the intersection of Virginia 87 Route 1008 in Henry County. The driver died. She wasn’t wearing a seat belt.

There’s no direct evidence that the failure to wear a seat belt caused the accident. But statistics from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) confirm that seat belt use reduces serious car accidents by 50%. Air bags also help, but not as much as seat belts. Seat belt usage is lower among males, the young and rural drivers and seats with a lower degree of seat belt enforcement.

Of interest, in Virginia, one’s failure to use a seatbelt is not admissible in Court for any purpose in an injury case. In North Carolina, it is admissible on the issue of failure to mitigate or lessen your damages, but not on contributory negligence.

Despite those rules, whether you’re driving in Virginia, North Carolina or any other state, seat belt use is highly recommended.

How our firm can help

Anyone who has been in a car accident, in North Carolina or Virginia, or who knows someone who was killed in a car accident because of the negligence of another needs to have legal help. Contact Norfolk Injury Lawyer Joe Miller or call us toll free at 888-694-1671 for more information on how to proceed, how to work with your doctors, and whether you might have a significant recovery coming your way.