Seat Belt Use Matters
Written by Jay M. Kelley III in Accident & Injury on November 9, 2017
Most people are aware of the safety benefits of seat belt use, yet many choose to forego seat belt use while driving or riding in a car.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), seat belt use is one of the most effective ways to prevent injuries and save lives in a motor vehicle crash.
Ohio seat belt laws
Ohio seat belt laws are intended to keep drivers and passengers safe and reduce the risk of serious injury and death in a motor vehicle accident. In Ohio:
- Driver and passengers in the front seat must wear a seat belt
- Children under the age of 8 must ride in either a booster seat or another child safety seat – unless the child is 4’9” or taller
- Children between the ages of 8 and 15 who are not riding in a car seat or booster seat must wear a seat belt
Drivers and passengers can be ticketed for failing to wear a seat belt. Fines range from $25 to $75.
Seat belt use is important for everyone
More than 60 percent of individuals killed in motor vehicle crashes were not wearing seat belts – or were not using them correctly.
No matter where you are sitting in a car, seat belt use is important:
- Front seat passengers: Seat belt use reduces the risk of fatal injures by 45 percent, and moderate to critical injuries by 50 percent.
- Occupants of light trucks: Seat belt use reduces the risk of fatal injuries by 60 percent, and moderate to critical injuries by 65 percent.
- Infants, less than one year old: Child safety seats reduce the risk of fatal injuries by 71 percent.
- Toddlers, ages one to four: Child safety seats reduce the risk of fatal injuries by 54 percent.
To reduce your chance of being seriously injured in a car accident, make sure you wear a seat belt at all times – and encourage your family members and friends to do the same.
Jay M. Kelley III - Managing Partner
Meet Jay M. Kelley III, a top medical malpractice and catastrophic personal injury attorney in Ohio with over 30 years of experience and a proven track record of securing millions in verdicts and settlements. He leads Elk + Elk’s comprehensive litigation strategy across state, federal, and appellate courts, drawing on a unique background as a former felony prosecutor and hospital defense lawyer. Jay focuses on high-stakes, complex cases, including birth injuries and wrongful death, and is widely recognized by Best Lawyers and ranked among the Super Lawyers Top 10 in Ohio.
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