You’ve only heard this “Seven-hundred and sixty-nine, eight-hundred and…seven-hundred and…listen properly, seven-hundred and sixty-nine thousand, eight-hundred and twenty *clears throat* and seventy members from one-hundred point two-million” times but…
WEAR YOUR BLÊRRIE SEATBELT! Sheesh 🤕
At this point, we ALL know that the simple act of buckling up significantly reduces the risk of serious injury or death in the event of a car accident, yet a recent national report obtained from an invisible survey of drivers wearing rates found that 19% of drivers, 49.9% of front passengers and 92.4% of back passengers were not wearing their seatbelts.
So… I’m here to remind you why the simple act of wearing a seatbelt is important for your safety (and insurance claims).
According to the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) in South Africa:
- Wearing a seatbelt can reduce your risk of dying in a car accident by up to 60%.
- 33 percent of people who die on roads are passengers, yet only 2% of passengers buckle up.
- Seat belt use in passenger vehicles saved an estimated 14,955 lives in 2017.
“I wasn’t wearing a seatbelt. How will this affect my insurance claim?”
Wearing a seatbelt is important for insurance purposes because it can affect your eligibility for coverage, as well as the amount of compensation you may receive in the event of a car accident.
In fact, your payout could be up to 25% less than the total amount you would have been entitled to, should you choose to not wear a seatbelt.
Most car insurance policies have clauses that require the driver and all passengers to wear seatbelts at all times while the vehicle is in motion. If you or any passengers are not wearing seatbelts during an accident, your insurance company may deem the accident to be partially or fully your fault, which can result in a denial of coverage or higher premiums.
In addition, if you are injured in a car accident and are found to not have been wearing a seatbelt, your insurance company may reduce the amount of compensation you are entitled to receive. This is because they may argue that your injuries were partially or fully the result of your failure to take reasonable precautions to protect yourself.
On the other hand, if you are wearing a seatbelt at the time of an accident and sustain injuries, your insurance company is more likely to view the accident as being caused by external factors beyond your control. This may result in you receiving a higher payout for your injuries or other damages resulting from the accident.
In summary, wearing a seatbelt is important for insurance purposes because it can impact your eligibility for coverage, the amount of compensation you may receive, and the extent of your liability in the event of a car accident. It is always best to wear your seatbelt while driving to ensure your safety and protect your insurance coverage.
Seatbelts save lives (and money!).
Make smart choices, friends!
Jono
