Gainesville, Ocala, Lake City & Inverness, Florida Accident Attorney and Alachua County DUI Lawyer Blogs

Reminder: Always buckle-up, especially on our rural roads!

Last Monday evening outside of Belleview, on County Road 25, two cars collided, leaving an 18 year-old, pick-up truck driver, in a coma with multiple serious injuries, and the other victim still in the hospital.

Our hearts and sympathies go out to the families of these young men.  As an accident lawyer, I would like to take this time to remind everyone again to always buckle up and to be extra safe out there on the rural roads that surround Gainesville and Ocala.

There is no way to know if the driver of the pick-up that reportedly veered into the incoming lane, and who was not wearing his seat belt at the time of the crash, could have had a less severe outcome if he had been buckled up. However, statistics show that seat belts, when worn properly, decrease severe injuries by 50 % and are the number one thing you can do to prevent Traumatic Brain Injuries .  

Additionally, rural two-lane highways in the Southeast are the largest and most deadly class of roads.  Another statistic of interest here is that 75% of crash deaths and injuries occur within 25 miles of home and more than half of all injury-producing motor vehicle crashes involve low speeds under 40 m.p.h..  So, even if you think that you are going "just down the road" and going slowly, you still need to buckle up!

Please be careful out there and buckle-up! 

And always remember to avoid distracted driving, keep: 2 hands on the wheel, 2 eyes on the road, and pay attention to driving.