Understanding Federal Seatbelt Laws

If you drive in the United States (or ride in motor vehicles), it is important to know and understand federal seatbelt laws. Wearing your seatbelt is a key factor in saving lives, but you can also get a ticket in some cases if you or your children are not buckled in correction. In addition, there are seatbelt laws surrounding seatbelt design what a manufacturer must provide to motorists.

These laws are meant to protect you. Know the law! If you’ve been injured due to seatbelt failure (or other seat failure problems), use this form to contact a lawyer for free advice today.

State laws, like those in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, often dictate the rules of the road, as many seatbelt failure problems and laws are regulated by state government. That said, there are still some overall federal laws that you should know regarding seatbelt problems. Here’s what you should understand about seatbelts in regards to federal law:

• As of September 2007, manufacturers must provide three-point seatbelt design for all passenger seats. Prior to that, the rear middle seat was only required to have a lap belt, and even earlier, all back seats were only required to have lap belts. This seatbelt design requirement is meant to prevent seatbelt failure and other injuries due to seatbelt problems. Federal law gives you the right to contact a lawyer is you have been injured due to seatbelt failure. Use this form to contact someone about your experience today!
• As of 2007, 25 states allow officers to pull you over and give you a ticket for not wearing a seatbelt. In 24 of the remaining states, officers may give you a ticket if you’ve been pulled over for something else and were not wearing a seatbelt.
• Children need to not only wear their seatbelts – they also need to be in a special car or booster seat. In 11 states this is required up to age four, in 6 states this is required up to age 5, in 16 states this is required up to age 6, in 6 states this is required up to age 7, and in the remaining states (as well as in Washington, D.C.) this is required up until age 8 or older. Regardless, the safest place for a child under 16 is in the back seat.

In the United States, federal law does not control most seat belt laws. Instead, this control to set laws is given to the states themselves. So, depending on where you live, your laws may be more or less lenient. However, no matter what the laws, be proactive about seatbelt safety. Wear your seatbelt correctly every time your drive or ride somewhere, and remind your passengers to as well. Of course, if you’ve experienced seatbelt problems due to malfunctions, talk to a lawyer today. Use this form to help bring faulty seatbelt manufacturers to justice.

Please fill out the form below to see if you have a Seatbelt Failure case.

* Click on the Disclaimer, below, for Terms HOW MAY WE CONTACT YOU?
First Name:
Last Name:
Address:
City:
Zipcode:
Phone #1:	() - ext.
Phone #2:	() - ext.
E-mail Address:
SEATBELT FAILURE INFORMATION
Date of Accident:	January February March April May June July August September October November December 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 1947 1946 1945 1944 1943 1942 1941 1940 1939 1938 1937 1936 1935 1934 1933 1932 1931 1930 1929 1928 1927 1926 1925 1924 1923 1922 1921 1920 1919 1918 1917 1916 1915 1914 1913 1912 1911 1910 1909 1908 1907 1906 1905 1904 1903 1902 1901
Location of Accident:
Please Describe What Happened:
Please Describe Your Injuries:
Comments or Questions: