Seat belts save lives, including those of babies yet to be born. This is why the March of Dimes encourages seat belt safety when you’re pregnant. They reduce the risk of both you and your baby being badly hurt in an automobile accident.

Bhatt Law Group’s Jersey City car accident lawyers can help if you and your unborn baby incur injuries in an automobile crash. We understand that life can take unexpected turns through no fault of your own because of others’ negligence. Contact us at (201) 798-8000 for a free consultation and let us help you seek the compensation you deserve.

Why Seat Belt Safety Matters

A 2016 study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that seat belts are to thank for saving some 345,000 lives since 1975. They saved about 14,000 lives in 2015 alone. Seat belt use is now at a record high 90 percent. While vehicles are constructed to be safer than ever, seat belts help protect their occupants from severe injuries and death.

How to Wear a Seat Belt When You’re Pregnant

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) suggests the safety belt be a lap and shoulder combination belt with the lap portion placed below your belly. It should touch your thighs while fitting snugly on your hip bones. Furthermore, the safety belt should never cross the stomach. The shoulder portion of the belt should fit snuggly across the center of your shoulder and chest, but you should never position it under your arm or behind your back.

Seat Belts v. Air Bags

Contrary to what you might think, air bags actually reduce the risk of danger to pregnant women and do not increase the likelihood their babies will be injured. Never turn off the airbags in your vehicle if you are pregnant. You should also realize that you may need to adjust your seat as your pregnancy progresses to ensure your seat belt fits properly. Simply move the seat back as far as possible and tilt it to ensure the distance between your stomach and the steering wheel and dashboard.

While air bags are unquestionably important for safety purposes, do not think they replace a seat belt. You need both to best protect you and your unborn child. Moreover, you need to wear your seat belt whether you are the driver or the passenger. In fact, you should consider riding in the back seat if you are the passenger since car crash injuries are generally less serious for back seat riders, but you should still be certain to buckle up.

Contact Bhatt Law Group to Help

The birth of a baby should be a joyous occasion rather than one fraught with anxiety because of a recent car accident. Protect yourself and your baby by exercising good judgment by wearing a seat belt during pregnancy. If, however, you find yourself a victim of another motorist’s negligence, then Bhatt Law Group can help.

Call us at (201) 798-8000 to schedule an appointment and find out more about your rights after a car accident.