June 19, 2012
According to a report in KXAN Austin, Texas roads can be very dangerous places. Statistics from the Texas Department of Transportation show that almost 3000 people died in traffic crashes in 2011. Texas does have seatbelt laws and, despite this, almost half of the drivers killed in these crashes were not wearing their seatbelts. Seatbelts and Safety Seatbelts have long been known to significantly reduce the incidence of fatalities in automobile crashes. In a bad car accident, it's easy to get bounced off of the dashboard or steering wheel, thrown through the windshield, thrown through the side window or door or to suffer other injuries that are the result of not being properly buckled in. Taking the one or two seconds required to fasten your seatbelt may well save your life or spare you injuries that may change your life forever. Over Labor Day weekend and until June 3, Texas police officers were conducting a "click it or ticket" campaign. This essentially involves pulling people over for seatbelt violations and hitting them with a fine right away. The fines can be very high. The fines in Texas for not wearing seatbelts can be up to $250 and can include the court costs, as well. Good Habits There is absolutely no reason why anybody driving or riding in a passenger vehicle should not be wearing a seatbelt. Fastening a seatbelt literally only takes a second and, by doing so, the chances of being killed in a bad car accident are significantly reduced. Aside from the most dramatic examples, the odds of sustaining significant medical injuries due to a minor fender bender are also significantly reduced if you are wearing your seatbelt. For example, having your seatbelt on could easily prevent you from getting all of your front teeth knocked out if you get a fixed object or a car in front of you. Unfortunately, some car crashes are unavoidable. When they are caused by negligent drivers, the victims of the negligent drivers sometimes have an opportunity to file a lawsuit to seek compensation for the damages that they suffered. If you have been injured by a negligent driver, contacting an attorney right away is imperative. There are limitations on how long you have to file a lawsuit over one of these cases and, if you wait too long, your opportunity will pass you by completely and you will have no further legal recourse.
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