Because traumatic brain injuries cannot be cured in the
traditional sense, preventive measures are the best weapons
against them. And because the number-one cause of traumatic
brain injuries among Americans who are less than 75 years
old is auto accidents, one of the best ways to prevent a
traumatic brain injury is to always use a seat belt. Seat
belts have consistently been shown to dramatically reduce
deaths and injuries in auto accidents. The National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration reports that of those who
were involved in fatal crashes in 2001, 73 percent who were
wearing seat belts and 44 percent who were not wearing seat
belts survived. And one 1997 study of traumatic brain
injury patients in 14 states showed that 46 percent of the
patients whose injuries were caused by motor vehicle
crashes were not wearing seat belts
Why Wear A Seat Belt?
In the United States, only one state, New Hampshire, does
not require adults to wear a seat belt. Many other states
make exceptions to their seat belt requirements for
children under a certain age, or for those sitting in the
back seat of the car. While some Americans believe that
using seat belts can actually increase a driver or
passenger's risk of traumatic brain injury, because the
head is not restrained with the body, there is no evidence
to support this theory and some evidence against it.
Similarly, some argue that seat belts make users less safe
by trapping them in the car in case of an accident, rather
than allowing them to be thrown clear. However, the NHTSA
notes that in 2001, 75 percent of those who were completely
ejected from a car during an accident were killed. One
percent of those were using a seat belt.
Seat Belt Use and Costs of Traumatic Brain Injury
Not only can declining to use a seat belt increase the
severity of an injury, but it also drives up the cost of
treating that injury. In a six-year study, the government
of Maine found that those who did not use a seat belt had
longer hospital stays and higher bills than those who did
use a seat belt. During that period, the study reported,
850 hospitalizations, with a cost of $17 million, could
have been avoided altogether if the patient had been
wearing a seat belt. Unbelted victims were more than twice
as likely to be hospitalized or die from a head injury. And
the crash victims who were ejected from their vehicles were
41 times more likely to sustain a serious or fatal brain
injury than those who were not.
Proper Use of Seat Belts Can Reduce Risk of TBI
While seat belts can help prevent a traumatic brain injury,
their effectiveness decreases when they are not used
properly. Seat belts must be tightened to fit the
individual using them. Two or more people cannot safely use
the same seat belt. If the seat belt is old or frayed, it
is not safe and should be replaced. And adults should
ensure that children who are under 4'9" and about 80 pounds
use the special equipment they need to be safe. Infants and
children under 40 pounds need a properly sized, properly
belted car seat; older children should use a booster seat
until they are big enough to use adult-sized lap and
shoulder belts. There is also mounting evidence that
children shorter than 4'9" should not ride in the front
seat at all, due to the risk of injury from passenger-side
air bags.
If you have suffered a traumatic brain injury, you may wish
to speak with an experienced TBI attorney. Your brain
injury lawyer can help you assess your potential claim,
access resources and even gain compensation for your
injuries and the costs of future medical care.
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