Los Angeles Injury Lawyer Blog

Two SoCal men were fatally injured in a motor vehicle accident near the San Gabriel River Freeway in late January when their driver, a resident of Pomona, lost control of his Honda Accord automobile and swerved into oncoming traffic. After first sideswiping a Mercedes, the Accord was broadsided by two other cars, the impact of which most likely caused the two victims to be ejected from it. According to police, neither was wearing their seatbelts at the time of the crash. The driver, suspected of driving under the influence, was arrested at the scene and faces a minimum of manslaughter charges.

Seatbelt are often overlooked as a critical safety mechanism that significantly reduces the degree of injury and prevents fatalities. According to data published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, seatbelts are an effective way to prevent ejections from a car. In crashes in which fatalities were involved, only 1 percent of occupants reported to be wearing seatbelt were ejected compared to 30 percent of those who were not wearing seatbelt restraint systems. A seatbelt not only saves lives but it also reduces the cost of injury associated with collisions. A long-term assessment of traffic accidents found that that from 1975-2000, seatbelts saved society a total of $585 billion in medical care, lost earnings, and other injury-related costs.

Law enforcement officials, state legislatures, and the department of motor vehicles all recognize the importance of wearing safety belts while driving. In an effort to educate consumers and motivate drivers to wear their seatbelts, they have launched a yearly, nationwide awareness campaign called “Click It or Ticket.” This year, the campaign will occur from May 19 – June 1, 2008. During this time period, law enforcement officials around the nation engage in an enforcement blitz to target those who fail to wear their seatbelts. In addition, national and local paid advertising will help support the message of seatbelt safety. The program is considered to highly successful – contributing to the 82% nationwide usage rate of seatbelts.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a car crash in California that has caused serious injury, you need a professional attorney that will help you through this difficult time. The professionals at the Law Offices of Greenberg & Rudman LLP are experienced personal injury lawyers that will fight hard to help you recover from your damages. To schedule an appointment, call 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776) now.