The very first car owners quickly discovered two things. First, cars were a great mode of transportation that transformed society. Second, if your car stops because it collides with another object, you keep moving until you hit something. Unfortunately, that “something” was often the steering wheel or dashboard. Automobile manufacturers quickly discovered that a restraint across the belt line was the best way to reduce injuries from those forceful accidents.
Although seat belts were first invented in 1889, they weren’t installed in cars until the mid-1950s. Those early seatbelts were one-point. Although they helped, there were still problems with forceful impacts jolting a driver or passenger forward. In 1959, Volvo introduced the three-point belt system, but it would take another ten years before seat belts were mandatory in all cars.
Of course, seat belts are only effective if they are being used. According to data collected by the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA), seat belt use has gone down, resulting in an increase in serious injuries and fatalities. Even the hospital costs for crash victims are 50% higher for unbelted motorists. That is why Maryland instituted a seat belt law in 2013.
That law is simple: All drivers and passengers must wear seat belts, and children under eight must ride in child safety seats.
Consequences of Not Buckling Up
A driver should not put their vehicle in gear unless everyone is buckled up. That includes the following vehicle classes:
- Class A – Passenger
- Class E – Trucks
- Class M – Multipurpose
- Class P – Passenger vehicles
If a vehicle is pulled over, anyone not wearing a seatbelt will be cited and fined $83. The driver will be fined for each infraction if the passengers are under 16 and unbelted.
Child Safety Seat Requirements
As mentioned above, Maryland’s seat belt laws extend to children under the age of 8. According to facts gathered from the MDOT MVA Highway Safety Office, when used correctly, car seats can reduce the risk of fatal injury in a crash by 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers. Sadly, 59% of car seats are installed incorrectly.
Parents must follow the instructions when choosing a car seat. Depending on the child’s age, they will either be in a rear-facing car seat, forward-facing car seat, booster seat or sit with the regular seat belt. One dominant recommendation is that kids under 13 should never ride in the front. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) offers a thorough guide on car seat types and installation tips.
Claim Denial
Maryland utilizes the contributory negligence approach for accident claims. This means that only parties who are found 100% at fault in an accident can be held accountable. If you are found even partially at fault, your claim could be denied. How does that apply to seat belt use?
If you were not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident, the insurance company could argue that your injuries were caused by the lack of safety restraint. Given the statistics, they could make a compelling argument. That means you might not be entitled to compensation even if another car ran a red light and collided with your vehicle if you weren’t wearing a seat belt.
In those situations, you’ll benefit from having strong legal counsel on your side. You can get that support through GDH Law. We have successfully helped many clients who have been denied a remedy. In some cases, our negotiating skills can turn the situation around. In other scenarios, we might recommend moving forward with a lawsuit.
When we agree to work on your behalf, we will keep you informed along every step of the way. That includes being honest with your chances of success. Before we get started, we need to hear what happened in your car accident. Call to set up a free case evaluation today.
