Deaths of Math Genius John Nash and Wife Show Need for Rear Seat Riders to Buckle Up

 The car accident on the New Jersey Turnpike, which proved fatal for mathematician John F. Nash Jr. and his wife, Alicia, highlights the importance of wearing your seatbelt, even if you are riding in the back seat. According to a report in The New York Times, the Nashes were thrown from the back seat of their taxi because they were not buckled up. Their deaths come after law enforcement agencies and safety advocacy groups have mounted campaigns to get all vehicle occupants to buckle up. However, not using a seatbelt in the back seat has become part of a cultural mindset over decades.

The Danger of Not Buckling Up
Studies show that although adults make up only 21 percent of rear-seat occupants, they account for 52 percent of deaths and 60 percent of serious injuries sustained in the rear seats. This has been directly attributed to the lack of seatbelt usage. Passengers who don’t buckle up in the back seat are eight times more likely to suffer serious or fatal injuries in a car crash. Also, backseat passengers are twice as likely to kill a front-seat occupant by becoming a projectile.
The Law Needs to Change
All states have seatbelt laws that require front seat occupants to buckle up. But, only 28 states require it for rear-seat passengers. In some states, drivers can receive tickets for a seatbelt violation only when they are stopped for another violation, which means failing to buckle up is not a “primary offense.” The state law in New Jersey requires all passengers to wear seatbelts.
However, here in New York City, seatbelt law still lags behind. Many people who take taxis or livery cars don’t buckle up. But they’re not breaking the law. The state’s seatbelt law doesn’t apply to rear seat passengers. According to a survey of passengers in the 2014 Taxicab Factbook released by the city’s Taxi and Limousine Commission, 62 percent of respondents admitted that they don’t buckle up.
Compensation for Injured Victims
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options. For over 43 years, our skilled accident attorneys have a proven track record of helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses. Our law firm recently recovered $5,600,000 for a man who was hit by a van, and $2,550,000 for another victim of a truck accident, and $3,000,000 for a pedestrian who was hit by a car.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury cases in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
Other TOLL FREE phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
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Source: The New York Times