Car accidents are alarmingly common. Statistics show that you are likely to be in at least one accident during your lifetime. Hopefully, it will be nothing but a fender bender, but the collision may be more serious. This realization leaves many people wondering, so how can I protect myself?
There are things you can do before a collision that will lessen the severity of your injuries and possibly save your life if and when you do wind up in a crash. As it turns out, the most effective safety protection available in passenger vehicles is seatbelts and airbags.
First, let’s examine the seatbelt. The three-point seatbelt was invented in 1962. Its use was unpopular for years. You are now legally required to wear a seatbelt in Nevada. If you are caught without one, you will be charged $20 for the first offense and $50 for each subsequent offense. This is because seatbelts are incredibly effective. Studies show that the seatbelt alone can reduce the risk of fatal injury in front-seat passengers by an incredible 45%.
Airbags are supposed to deploy when a car suddenly jerks to a stop or suffers an impact. The idea is that they offer a softer place for your body to come into contact with than a dashboard or windshield. Airbags are actually designed to work with seatbelts. The seatbelt holds the driver or passenger in place, and the airbags deploy in order to cushion the impact. When used in conjunction with seatbelts, front airbags reduce fatalities by 11%. Side airbags have been shown to reduce fatalities by roughly 37%.
To keep yourself safe in the event of a crash, make sure your airbags are functioning correctly and always wear your seatbelt. If you wind up in a car accident, call Karns & Karns for representation. We work with car accident victims every day, and we are here to help you.
