We are personal injury experts who have achieved results for our clients in Joplin for over 40 years.
Seat Belts
Did you know that in the U.S., traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for people aged two through thirty-three?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s report titled Lives Saved in 2017 by Restraint Use and Minimum Drinking Age Laws, seat belt use saved approximately 14,955 lives in 2017. An additional 325 children aged four and below were saved due to the use of child restraints.
A World Health Organization report found that people are 45% more likely to survive a crash if correctly seatbelted.
The NHTSA estimates that child safety seats in passenger cars have been found to reduce deaths by 71 percent for children under one, 54% for children aged one to four, and 45% for children between four and eight.
Contrast this with the fact that six people were found not to have been wearing their seat belts for every ten traffic fatalities in Missouri.
It just makes sense to use seat belts and child safety seat restraints, as emphasized by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. They save lives and reduce the economic costs, pain, and suffering associated with crashes.
Unfortunately, we are often helpless with regard to most contributing factors of a car accident. However, wearing a seatbelt is something we can exert control over. It is highly recommended that all of us use our seatbelts and child restraints at all times. We all stand to gain.
Speeding Statistics and Missouri Drivers
The most common factor in Missouri crashes is speed. The Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety reports that at least forty percent of all traffic fatalities in Missouri are caused by or exacerbated by excessive speed. The report further highlights that at least one aggressive driver is involved in more than half of all fatal crashes in Missouri.
Compared to driving under the influence, excessive speed and aggressive driving are twice as likely to contribute to deadly accidents.
The faster the speed, the more destruction. This is especially true with accidents between vehicles and cyclists. An accident at twenty miles per hour sees the cyclist surviving 90% of the time. However, at forty miles per hour, the chance of survival plummets to twenty percent.
In order to reduce accidents and fatalities, we all need to take personal responsibility for our actions. So, next time you feel tempted to put your foot down, remember that our society is also responsible for reducing accidents. A five- or ten-minute delay could save someone’s life.
Once you have got a hold of the situation, you need to undergo a detailed medical checkup to see how much this accident has affected you. In many cases, the injured person gets several undiagnosed underlying issues associated with accidents, but they find out later when they can’t receive compensation for it.
So, it is important to create a medical report of all of your injuries and suffering. It will help you get fair compensation for your losses.
Do You Need an Accident Attorney?
If you have been injured in a car accident and believe another party was at fault, don’t hesitate to hire the services of skilled accident attorneys in Missouri to assess your case and advise you on your rights. We have close to forty years of experience practicing Missouri accident and personal injury law.
Contact Buchanan, Williams & O’Brien, P.C. for a free consultation today!