Seat Belt Safety

There are many different seat belt designs, all intended to protect automobile passengers in the unfortunate event of an accident. However, a staggering 14% of automobile passengers do not wear seat belts, or do not wear them properly, when in a car.

All different seat belt designs are intended to, and are often able to prevent injury in an automobile collision if worn correctly. In fact, studies show that 50% of automobile accident fatalities could have been prevented if the victim had been wearing a seat belt.

To help protect yourself and your loved ones, you should familiarize yourself with the different types of seat belts and how to properly fasten them.

Lap Belts

Lap belts consist of one adjustable piece of material that fits over an individual’s lap. These belts are most commonly found in the rear seats of older car models, as most current manufacturers have switched to the safer three-point design.

To wear a lap belt correctly, you should make sure that the belt is fastened snugly across your pelvic bone, and NOT across your stomach.

Three-point Belts

Three-point belts are called this because in the event of an accident, the force of your body moving forward is spread out over three different places: the chest, pelvis and shoulders. These belts consist of a single length of material that goes across the lap and across the chest of the passenger.

To wear a three-point belt correctly, the lap belt portion should rest snugly across your pelvic bone, while the shoulder strap remains across your chest. DO NOT tuck the shoulder strap behind your back, as this reduces the effectiveness of the belt.

Belt-in-Seat (BIS)

The BIS model is very similar to the three-point belt, except that in the BIS model, the shoulder strap is attached to the passenger’s seat, and not to the car frame.

These belts should be worn like the three-point model.

If you or someone you know has been injured due to seat belt defects, contact the Sheboygan Seat Belt Defect Lawyers of Habush Habush & Rottier at 800-248-0171 today to discuss your legal options.