An SUV with 3 occupants apparently went out of control and two of the occupants died after being ejected in Manatee County, Florida on Thursday (July 24) night. The single-vehicle rollover accident occurred near U.S. Highway 301 and 51^st Avenue East. The Florida Highway Patrol is still investigating the cause of the crash, trying to determine what caused the SUV to roll across the grass median into northbound traffic.

Although certainly there have been cases in which seatbelted people are thrown from their vehicle, most vehicle ejections occur due to a failure to use the seatbelt. As the investigation is still pending in this particular accident, one cannot say whether the two persons who were ejected were wearing their seatbelts or whether they were unbelted.

According to an article published by S.A.F.E. an non-profit public awareness and educational group started by Florida paramedics and firefighters, Florida has a high ratio of unbelted drivers and passengers who are injured in accidents compared to other states. In fact, S.A.F.E. reports that among the most populated counties in the country, Florida had the top three for unbuckled deaths per million residents between 2000-2003.

Although there have been reported exceptions, the odds are strongly in favor of not being injured if you properly wear a seatbelt. Seatbelt use is encouraged and is the law in Florida. The adage “Seatbelts Saves Lives,” remains words to live by . . . literally.

About this Law Firm

James W. Dodson is a Tampa area based traffic accident attorney, specializing in helping clients recover from auto, motorcycle, and slip and fall injury cases.