Tennessee law requires drivers and passengers of moving vehicles to wear safety restraints (seat belts) at all times while the car is in motion. Not only do restraint systems keep the occupants from moving around inside the car, but they also can help prevent an injury that can result from a car accident. While some restraints have been shown to cause injuries such as whiplash or broken ribs, seat belts protect against worse bodily damage and even can prevent death due to a collision. Whether or not an accident happens, a person can be ticketed for not using a seat belt while operating a motor vehicle. It is important to understand what the law says about seat belt use and how it relates to receiving compensation in a vehicle crash.

What Does Tennessee Law Say?

According to the law, drivers and passengers over the age of four years old are required to wear a seat belt if they are in a moving vehicle. The only exception to this law is for vehicles that are used as public transportation or livery vehicles such as limousines, which do not have seat belts available to passengers.

A 22-year-old driver was fatally injured this past Thanksgiving when her car collided with a tree in Anderson County. The accident occurred when the driver lost control of her vehicle, swerved off the road, and ultimately hit the tree. While the Tennessee State Patrol has stated that alcohol and drugs did not play a role in the fatal crash, the driver did make one mistake: she was incorrectly wearing her seat belt. Every year, approximately 32,000 people are killed in motor vehicle collisions throughout the United States. A large number of those who are fatally injured neglected to wear their seat belts. 

Seat Belts Save Lives 

While the traffic fatality rate throughout the United States may seem alarmingly high, the number of fatal injuries would be much higher without the use of seat belts. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately two million Americans are injured each year in car accidents. Seat belt restraint systems are responsible for saving 14,000 American lives on an annual basis. Despite that fact, 27.5 million Americans still neglect to wear their seat belts when driving or riding in a motor vehicle. Of all those killed in motor vehicle collisions throughout 2016, 48.5% of them were not wearing their seat belts. 

Why a Seat Belt Helps 

Proper use of a seat belt restraint system helps to increase safety in a number of ways. Not only do seat belts keep you securely in your vehicle in the event of a car crash, but they also ensure that the vehicle’s airbags and other safety measures work as designed. When seat belts are not utilized, airbags can cause severe and even fatal injuries. Common airbag injuries include punctured lungs, broken ribs, and severe head trauma.