Do you sometimes consider wearing a seat belt to be an inconvenience? Have you ever wondered if they are truly necessary?
Reminders to buckle up are everywhere – from billboards to radio spots to the warning alarms in our cars – and 49 states currently have seat belt laws. The nationwide seat belt enforcement mobilization effort, “Click It Or Ticket”, has helped increase seat belt use to 84%, and in the past five years more than three million seat belt law citations have been issued. It’s clearly necessary to fasten your seat belt to avoid a ticket and a fine, but what about the impact on your health?
The Center for Disease Control considers motor vehicle accidents to be a major health problem, and their research shows that they are the leading cause of death among those aged five to 34. According to the Colorado Department of Transportation, 166 unbuckled drivers and passengers lost their lives on our roadways in 2010. Considered by some to be the greatest safety device ever created, the CDC reports they reduce injury and death by about 50%.
At The Frickey Law Firm, we see first-hand how a serious motor vehicle crash can impact a life. The injured suffers physically, mentally and emotionally, their livelihood can be threatened, and their family may struggle. The consequences can be far-reaching.
As long as we have automobiles, there will be crashes. Buckle up. It might just save your life.
The Frickey Law Firm has proudly represented the citizens of Colorado for over 50 years in the areas of Personal Injury, Workers’ Compensation and Vehicle Accidents. The firm received a Tier 1 ranking in the 2013 U.S. News “Best Law Firms” report, and has offices in Lakewood and Denver.