Child Passenger Safety
A recent accident near Tallahassee involved several children who were not wearing proper child safety and were severely injured as a result. According to a report from Tallahassee’s WCTV news, six people were injured in the crash on Interstate 10, including the two children. The crash occurred at approximately 2:30 in the afternoon when a driver traveling westbound on the highway lost control of her vehicle, crossed over the median and then came to a dead stop. Her car was then struck by a van in which two unrestrained children were riding; the van was unable to stop in time in order to avoid colliding with the car. The driver of the car and one passenger were taken to a nearby hospital with minor injuries, while one of the car’s passengers suffered serious injuries. The two children in the van, one a four-year-old boy and the other a three-year–old girl, neither of whom were properly restrained with child restraints, both suffered serious injuries, while the van’s driver suffered minor injuries. This is an unfortunate example of the tragic consequences that can occur when motorists do not follow Florida law requiring that all motorists and passengers, including children, be appropriately restrained when they are on the road in Florida. The results of not complying with this law can be catastrophic, as seen in this accident. This is a cost that can be borne by children in particular, who are especially vulnerable in the case of motor vehicle accidents.
The Seat Belt: The Earliest and Most Rudimentary of Safety Devices and One Whose Use Is Required by Law
The seat belt is perhaps the most rudimentary, but arguably the most important, safety device in anyone’s car. No matter whether your car is brand new or twenty years old, it has seat belts. Seat belts first came standard in motor vehicles when the Swedish auto manufacturer Saab started including seat belts in every one of its models in the late 1950’s. The world’s first seat belt law was put in place in 1970, in Victoria, Australia, making the wearing of a seat belt required for all drivers and front-seat passengers. Since that time, seat belts are required by law to be installed in every motor vehicle by nearly every jurisdiction in the world and have expanded to include back seat passengers as well. Florida, like every other state, requires that individuals in motor vehicles wear seat belts. This law applies to any car manufactured since 1968. In addition, all passengers under 18 years old must wear a seat belt or be otherwise restrained by a child car seat. Florida law requires that children ages five and under must be secured properly in a crash-tested, federally approved child restraint device.
Why It Is So Important to Wear
Your Seat Belt
The importance of always wearing a seat belt cannot be overstated. Florida’s roads, particularly those in South Florida, are among the most dangerous in the country and not wearing a seat belt can result in absolutely tragic consequences. According to statistics from the State of Florida, wearing a seat belt reduces your risk of being injured or killed in a crash by almost 50 percent. This is particularly true where the person not wearing the seat belt is a child with his or her whole life in front of him. Not wearing a seat belt is a simple thing that does not result in any real inconvenience to someone but can make the difference between life or death when someone is involved in a car accident.
Contact the Experienced Motor Vehicle Accident Attorneys of Schwed, Adams & McGinley
At Schwed, Adams & McGinley, our experienced personal injury attorneys have more than 150 years of combined practice representing victims of all sorts of motor vehicle accidents. We have represented thousands of people who were injured in motor vehicle accidents, including those who may have made a mistake and not worn their seat belts. However, just because you were not wearing your seat belt does not mean that you do not deserve to recover for your injuries suffered in a Florida motor vehicle accident caused by someone else’s negligence. Therefore, if you, a family member, or a loved one have been injured in a motor vehicle accident because of another motorist’s actions, contact the experienced personal injury attorneys at Schwed, Adams & McGinley, P.A today at 877-694-6079 or contact@schwedlawfirm.com for a free consultation.