A tragic accident occurred recently in Jones County, Mississippi, claiming the lives of four teenagers. The single vehicle accident happened on Friday, February 6. The Jones County Sheriff reported that three teens, ages 13, 14 and 16 were killed when the Nissan Altima they were riding in struck a tree. The car was traveling at a high rate of speed and the driver lost control of the vehicle, sending it careening into a tree. All four of the occupants were ejected from the vehicle. None of them were wearing safety belts. Three of the teens, including two sisters, were pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, while the fourth fought for her life for some time at a local hospital before eventually succumbing to her injuries. An accident reconstructionist is working to reconstruct the accident, but has reported that speed was certainly a factor in the crash.
Sadly, the death of these four young people was likely preventable. Had the teens been wearing their seatbelts, as required under Mississippi law, they may have survived the accident. In the state of Mississippi, all drivers and front seat passengers must wear a seatbelt. Exceptions include those drivers or passengers with disabilities or medical conditions that make seatbelt use impossible, on duty U.S. Postal Service vehicles, and vehicles intended for farm use.
It is an undeniable fact that seatbelts save lives. Approximately 64 percent of drivers between the ages of 13 and 15 and 21 to 34 were not wearing seatbelts in 2008. These age groups have the highest percentage out of all age groups. Research shows that safety belts reduce the risk of fatal injury to front seat car occupants by 45 percent and the risk of severe injury by 50 percent.
Ejection from the vehicles, as occurred in this Jones County crash, is the most common event that can happen to a person not wearing a seatbelt in the event of an accident. Over 77 percent of all vehicle occupants who are ejected from the vehicle die as a result. It is estimated that seatbelts save the lives of over 13,000 automobile drivers and passengers each year.
Of all the teens that die in automobile crashes, about 55 percent were not wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash. Teens are most likely to not wear a seatbelt, and men are 10 percent less likely than women to wear their safety belt. Those that live in rural areas have lower rates of seatbelt use, and seatbelt use is lower in states with no seatbelt laws or secondary enforcement laws.
The message to be gleaned from these statistics and this fatal crash is simple: wear your seatbelt each and every time you get into a motor vehicle, whether you are a driver or a passenger, as this simple act can save your life.
Barrett Law PLLC: Aggressive Representation for Automobile Accident Victims Across the State
This recent tragic accident illustrates the importance of wearing seatbelts and controlling your speed while driving. Sadly, these four teens are just a few of thousands who will be killed in automobile accidents this year alone. If you or a loved one is involved in an automobile accident in the state of Mississippi, the Mississippi Automobile Accident Attorneys at Barrett Law PLLC can help. We assist accident victims in obtaining full compensation for their injuries associated with the crash, including medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and much more. Call the skilled, experienced, and dedicated automobile accident attorneys at Barrett Law PLLC today at 1 (800) 707-9577 to schedule your free consultation.