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Mon 10th Jun | 2013

Seatbelts May Fail, but Truck Drivers Should Still Wear Them

Auto Accidents & News Auto News & Recalls Road Safety BY

Despite the fact that federal law requires all truck drivers to wear seatbelts while driving their commercial vehicles, many drivers ignore the regulation. If more drivers knew the shocking statistics on injuries sustained by unbelted drivers in truck accidents, perhaps they would be more willing to comply and protect themselves from a very high risk of fatal injury.

The statistics behind non-seatbelt use and truck drivers’ injuries

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recently revealed statistics showing:

  • There were 703 big rig truck accidents in which the drivers were killed.
  • From those, 340 of the drivers were not wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident.
  • Out of that 340, 180 of the drivers were ejected from the truck.
  • Out of the 180, 80 percent were not wearing seatbelts.

The most dangerous type of large truck accident is the rollover, and 52 percent of all driver fatalities were the result of rollovers. The statistics show that drivers killed in rollovers were 80 percent less likely to be wearing a seatbelt. Florida seatbelt injury attorneys understand that truck drivers often complain that seatbelts restrict their movements or that drivers are worried the seatbelt will not unlock if they are trying to escape from the truck in case of a fire or rollover. However, seat belts save lives.

Seatbelt injury attorney in Florida

Seatbelts safe lives, but sometimes they fail and can actually cost lives or cause injury. When injury or death occurs due to seatbelt failure, you need a Florida seatbelt injury attorney with a proven track record of success in personal injury cases.