Richard Schwartz and Associates of Jackson, Mississippi have always been strong supporters of wearing a seatbelt. Statistically, it is the smartest choice someone can make to protect their own lives and other people’s when in a car accident. As one of the largest personal injury law firms in the state of Mississippi, we have the seen the effects that not wearing a seatbelt has.

Why do seatbelts work so well? Why are the injuries sustained in an accident without a seatbelt so much more substantial? The answer is called the human collision. Basically, a car accident at 15 miles an hour is like running as fast as you can into a brick wall. The vehicle will stop moving in under a second, but the human body will not stop moving until it is stopped by something. The stopping point can be the seatbelt, or it can be the windshield or air bags.

So with that in mind, it’s easy to understand how wearing a seatbelt drastically reduces serious injuries in car wrecks. According to a James Madison university study, approximately 35,000 people die in motor vehicle crashes each year. 50% (17,000) of these people could be saved if they wore their seatbelts. The question is, why don’t people wear their seatbelts?

It’s against the law in Mississippi to not wear a seatbelt. Even so, only 14% of people actually buckle up. Some complain that seatbelts are uncomfortable, or they’re only driving a short distance. These excuses are really just not valid. According to many studies, most car accidents actually happen within 25 miles of the home, going less than 40 miles an hour. These kinds of accidents are fatal 25% of the time.

Is the risk really worth the cost it could have? Buckle up your children, remind teenagers to always click in, and even remind yourself. Tell people in your community about the risks of not wearing a seatbelt, and work to change the problem. The car accident lawyers at Richard Schwartz and Associates advocate seatbelt safety, for your family and our state. We can make Mississippi roads a better place by taking a little action, buckle up!