Oh No! That Shoulder Belt Might Wrinkle My Shirt!

Improper use or lack of use of a vehicle’s passenger restraint systems can increase your chances of sustaining fatal injuries by 60 percent. Seat belts were designed to spread out the force of the crash over the strongest parts of the body to significantly reduce injuries and to keep you within the vehicle.

The driver and all passengers should use the occupant restraint systems installed by the factory and not exceed the recommended number of passengers for that vehicle. Children should be restrained using a car seat or booster appropriate for their age and size that is installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions. An unrestrained passenger can move throughout the cabin of the car and either injure other passengers or be ejected.

One of the most common misuses of wearing a seat belt is by placing the shoulder belt or shoulder harness under the arm rather than on the shoulder mainly because the belt is not comfortable on the shoulder, it rubs the neck, or it might wrinkle a shirt. Not only is wearing a seat belt like this in most areas a violation, underarm use of the shoulder belt can cause significant internal or fatal injuries in what could have been a survivable car accident and also cause your upper body to move violently forward in a collision thus defeating the purpose of the shoulder belt. There have also been cases of amputations by wearing a seat belt this way. The shoulder belt should fit crossing the center of your chest and on the shoulder. If the shoulder belt is uncomfortable or does not fit properly, most vehicles allow you to adjust to fit, you can get a device to adjust the belt from the vehicle’s manufacturer, or you can place a comfort sleeve on the belt. You should only get these types of devices from the vehicle’s manufacturer as aftermarket accessories may not have been properly tested.

Being injured in a car accident is a traumatic and stressful event. To make sure you get the compensation you are entitled to such as medical expenses and lost wages, consult with a reputable and experienced personal injury lawyer to review your case.

Natalie's Bill in Massachusetts

What Is Natalie's Bill?
Natalie’s Bill would permit police officers in Massachusetts to pull over drivers who aren’t wearing their seatbelt while behind the wheel. The bill would become a primary seatbelt law in the state, meaning that failure to wear a seatbelt would be sufficient grounds to be pulled over and fined $50 for the first offense.

Massachusetts currently has a secondary seatbelt law, which means that drivers can be cited for not wearing a seatbelt only when they are pulled over for another violation. Drivers who don’t buckle up cannot be pulled over solely because they don’t have their belt on under the present law. Natalie’s Bill would change all of that, if passed. Primary seatbelt laws are in effect in 31 states across the U.S.

There was a hearing on the bill last week in front of the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security and the review of the proposed bill may now take several months for it be approved and enacted. Advocates are hopeful that the bill will pass and that it has the power to save lives.

Who Was Natalie?
The bill is named after Natalie Fuentes, 21, of Springfield, who was killed in July of 2006 in a rollover accident in Springfield. Her boyfriend was driving and Natalie was in the passenger seat when a car in front of them stopped suddenly. The boyfriend then attempted to avoid the car, which caused the vehicle to roll over several times. Natalie was not wearing her seatbelt at the time of the crash and her mother, Beatriz, has been the leading advocate in pushing for the bill to pass.

Seatbelts Save Lives
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) estimates that primary seat belt laws truly do have the potential to save lives. If Natalie’s Bill were to pass in the legislature, nearly 20 lives would be saved in the Commonwealth each year and 650 severe injuries stemming from motor vehicle collisions around the state would be prevented.

If You Have Been Injured in a Massachusetts Auto Accident
If you have been seriously hurt in a car accident in Massachusetts due to a reckless driver, BEFORE you sign any forms, talk to the insurance company or hire a lawyer, contact a Massachusetts personal injury lawyer with Kiley Law Group to find out about your legal options.

Our car accident lawyers have 30 years of experience and a successful track record of obtaining seven figure wins for our clients in auto accident cases, medical malpractice, child birth injuries, brain injuries, and other personal injury cases.

Call 800-410-2769 to receive your free legal consultation today. And while the call is free, the information may be priceless.

DISCLAIMER: The Kiley Law Group is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited within the article. If you were involved in this accident or a similar incident and have questions about your rights and legal options, call us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a legal evaluation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to all not-at-fault persons named in this article and to their family members as well.

How Many Massachusetts Motorists Are Not Wearing Seatbelts?

Car crashes are the leading cause of death among teenagers ages 15-19 and fatal injuries from crashes are the second most common cause of death among children who are ages 5-14.  Just over 20% of all fatalities resulting from car crashes in the U.S. were children, ranging in ages from newborn to 19, according to the World Health Organization.  The truth is, is that seat belts can help save lives, especially among children and adolescents, if used properly.  Many child safety seats and booster seats are not installed or even used correctly, which is why parents must ensure that the seats and buckles are set up right the first time.  Kids younger than 12 should always ride in the back seat for their safety, in the event airbags deployed in an accident.  Try to enforce a rule about not moving or even starting the car until everyone is buckled in safely.

In Massachusetts, it has been estimated that 30% of individuals in the Commonwealth do not buckle up when they get behind the wheel as a driver or even as a passenger, despite regular ad campaigns that raise awareness for both the legal and deadly consequences.  Teenage drivers are unfortunately renowned for not wearing seat belts, which all too often can end in tragedy for all involved.  Putting your seat belt on is simple but its effects can be the difference between life and death.  Seat belts prevent drivers and passengers from being ejected out of the vehicle and keep the body as restrained as possible, with specific protection focused on the person’s neck, head, and spine.

When to Contact the Best Lawyer in Massachusetts
If you or someone you know has been seriously injured or killed in a motor vehicle accident in Massachusetts due to someone else’s recklessness, BEFORE you sign any forms, talk to the insurance company or hire a lawyer, get this free Massachusetts accidents book to learn how to avoid making the 7 fatal mistakes after an accident.

Contact the Massachusetts injury lawyers with Kiley Law Group to find out about your legal options.  Our car accident lawyers have 30 years of experience and a successful track record of obtaining seven figure wins for our clients in auto accident cases, medical malpractice, child birth injuries, brain injuries, and other personal injury cases.  Call 800-410-2769 to receive a free legal consultation.  And while the call is free, the information may be priceless.

DISCLAIMER: The Kiley Law Group is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited within the article. If you were involved in this accident or a similar incident and have questions about your rights and legal options, call us at 800-410-2769, or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a legal evaluation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to all not-at-fault persons named in this article and to their family members as well.