Since 1985 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has launched a yearly Click-It or Ticket campaign in an effort to get more drivers and passengers to buckle up. Since 1975 is has been estimated that more than 255,000 lives have been saved due to the use of a seatbelt. According to the Center for Disease Control between 2002 and 2008 the percentage of Americans who use a seatbelt grew from 80 percent to 85 percent. Although the numbers have increased, one in seven drivers admits to not buckling up on every trip. In Ohio specifically, more than 38,000 people using a seatbelt suffered incapacitating or non-incapacitating injuries after a car accident while an additional 7,600 people who were not using any safety equipment injuries as well. Furthermore the number of fatal crashes was higher amongst persons not using a safety belt than those who chose to buckle up. Although seatbelts save lives, they can still attribute to injury as some persons suffer from seatbelt injuries such as bruising or lacerations. If you or a loved one has suffered from seatbelt injuries in an accident caused by a careless driver, the victim may be entitled to compensation for property damage, medical bills, lost wages, and more.
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Types Of Seatbelts
The history of seatbelts dates back to the early 19th century when an English engineer was given the first patent for the creation of a safety belt that would be used for tourists, painters and firemen who were being raised or lowered. It was until the late 1940s and mid 1950s that car manufacturers began to offer seatbelts in vehicles. In the 1970s Australia implemented the first seatbelt law and since then it has become a requirement in many more countries. Most commonly all persons think of standard lap/shoulder seatbelt used in modern vehicles, however there are a number of different seatbelts used to keep us safe. Lap Belt This type of seatbelt is commonly seen in airplanes and in older vehicles. The belt attached at two-end points over a persons lap. Sash/Shoulder Belt Shoulder belts lay diagonally across a persons older similar to a sash. Typically these types of seatbelts will buckle toward the center of the vehicle. These belts were sometimes used in conjunction with a lap belt to create the typical 3-Point seatbelt used today. 3-Point/Y-Shaped First introduced in 1959 the three point harness is simply the lap and shoulder belt combined into one. These types of seatbelts help spread out the energy of the moving body, in the event of a collision, over the chest, pelvis, and shoulders. These types of belts are now standard in most modern-day vehicles. Belt-in-Seat (BIS) This automatic belt slides in and out of place when a driver enters and exists the vehicle and was commonly combined with a lap belt. Five-Point Seatbelt Not for use in everyday vehicles, five-point belts can often be found in race cars and child safety seats. These harnesses combine two shoulder belts, a lap belt, and a belt between the legs all of which connect in one center buckle. Some older vehicles that are not equipped with any type of safety belt, particularly those manufactured before the 1950s, may have seatbelts installed in order to properly protect both the driver and passengers.Contact Our Attorneys Today
Although seatbelts have saved lives, they have also aided in the harm of other persons. Furthermore, defective seatbelts have also been the cause of further car accident injuries during an accident. If you or a loved one has suffered from seatbelt injuries or injuries caused by a defective product, the victim may be entitled to compensation. The knowledgeable team of personal injury attorneys at O'Connor, Acciani & Levy can help you fight for your right to fair and just compensation. For more than 30 years we have provided accident injury victims in the greater Ohio area comprehensive legal counsel and helped guide them through the entire litigation process. We have several offices located throughout the state and proudly serve the following areas:- Cincinnati
- Columbus
- Covington
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