The Virginian Pilot recently reported that two drivers escaped a near fatal accident on the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge Tunnel thanks to seat belts. The Monitor-Merrimac Bridge shut down traffic for over an hour on February 16, 2008 when one of the drivers attempted to change lanes and struck the other vehicle. The other vehicle flipped over several times upon impact. The driver of the vehicle which flipped over was trapped in her truck for some time before rescue personnel could get her out. Fortunately both drivers were wearing their safety belts which saved them from more serious or fatal injuries.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that in 2006 42,642 people were killed in automobile accidents. Although this number is still too high, it reflects is a 2% decrease since 2005. Of those fatalities, only 45% involved restrained drivers. That means that an astonishing 55% of the occupants involved in fatal car crashes were not using their seat belts. Even more upsetting is that nearly 64% of the fatalities which occurred at night involved unrestrained occupants.
Don’t be another statistic. Make sure you tell your loved ones, children, and friends to always wear their seat belt. If you or anyone you know has been injured in an accident, please give us a call. We will help to ensure that your interests and rights are protected.