Four Reasons to Always Wear Your Seatbelt

Seatbelts are extremely important devices, in fact they’ve become so important that every single state in the country requires passenger vehicle occupants to wear them. These laws exist for more reasons than simply charging people fines: they could actually save your life. Here are four of the most common and well-known reasons why you should always make sure you’re wearing your seatbelt while in the car.

Seatbelts Save Lives

Perhaps the most important role seatbelts have is to keep you alive in the event of an accident. Thousands of car accidents happen every day across the country, and many of those who aren’t wearing a seatbelt die from either the impact or from the severity of their injuries. No matter what seat you’re riding in or how fast you’re going, not wearing your seatbelt dramatically increases the chances of a fatality, which means a few extra moments to buckle up could be what saves you.

Prevent Serious Injuries

If a crash without your seatbelt doesn’t prove to be fatal, you’ll almost certainly experience serious injuries. Those who don’t wear seatbelts have been known to be thrown around the cabin of their car, collide with their steering wheel, and even be tossed from the vehicle through their windshield! On top of that, those who don’t wear their seatbelts often suffer additional injuries when their airbags go off since airbags are designed to protect you as you’re wearing your safety belt.

It’s Against the Law Not To

As we stated previously, every single state has a law requiring vehicle occupants to wear a safety belt, and for good reason: the belt could save your life. However, for many people the only motivation they need is the threat of a citation and large fine for failing to buckle up. In Pennsylvania, the fine could range anywhere between $10 and $75, but you’ll also have to pay another $95 in court fees. Then on top of that, you’ll have to deal with the possibility of your car insurance premiums rising, adding significantly to what’s already a pretty large monthly cost.

Turn Off the Seatbelt Alarm

Let’s be honest: seatbelt alarms are annoying. Some models the alarm is a friendly reminder to buckle up, while other brands and models get more aggressive, and others start friendly but grow more and more obnoxious until you buckle up just to get it to be quiet. Some vehicles have even been known to shut the radio off and hold it hostage until you put your seatbelt on! Why deal with the hassle?

If you’re in need of assistance in reviewing your legal options after an accident, call an Altoona car accident attorney from Goldstein, Heslop, Steele, Clapper, Oswalt and Smith today!