A Wellington, Florida woman and her family suffered minor injuries after their SUV crashed and rolled over on the Florida Turnpike Thursday evening. The family was taken to Delray Medical Center and West Boca Medical Center for treatment. According to reports, the auto accident allegedly occurred when an unknown vehicle tried to cut in behind the SUV and clipped the truck's rear bumper. At the time of the automobile accident, the family members were wearing their seat belts and the driver was talking on her cell phone.
According to Florida's Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, 10,255 injury accidents and 826 fatal accidents resulted in overturned vehicles in 2006. 79 out of the 110 children ages 01 to 17 years old killed in automobile accidents in 2006 were not using safety equipment. Safety belts and other vehicle safety equipment does save lives. Of the 214,083 accidents reported as involving drivers and passengers wearing only safety belts, 146,798 of the occupants reported no injuries at all and 42,035 occupants reported only possible injuries.
Not only do seat belts help save lives and prevent injuries in car crashes, they are also required to be worn by law. Florida statute requires that the operator of a motor vehicle, all passengers under the age of 18, and all front seat passengers wear seat belts or child restraints. Furthermore, if you are involved in an auto accident due to the negligence of another, the failure to use a seat belt can be argued by the defense to be comparative negligence on your part and used to reduce the amount of compensation awarded. It is always important to take steps to protect yourself and passengers in your motor vehicle.
According to Florida's Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, 10,255 injury accidents and 826 fatal accidents resulted in overturned vehicles in 2006. 79 out of the 110 children ages 01 to 17 years old killed in automobile accidents in 2006 were not using safety equipment. Safety belts and other vehicle safety equipment does save lives. Of the 214,083 accidents reported as involving drivers and passengers wearing only safety belts, 146,798 of the occupants reported no injuries at all and 42,035 occupants reported only possible injuries.
Not only do seat belts help save lives and prevent injuries in car crashes, they are also required to be worn by law. Florida statute requires that the operator of a motor vehicle, all passengers under the age of 18, and all front seat passengers wear seat belts or child restraints. Furthermore, if you are involved in an auto accident due to the negligence of another, the failure to use a seat belt can be argued by the defense to be comparative negligence on your part and used to reduce the amount of compensation awarded. It is always important to take steps to protect yourself and passengers in your motor vehicle.
Gabriel Mejia is a personal injury attorney handling accident and
injury cases in Florida for Law Offices Cytryn and Velazquez, P.A.
