Drivers and passengers in Colorado and other states often take their safety while traveling by motor vehicle for granted and do not use seat belts while on the road. This has fatal consequences in many cases as shown by the low seat belt usage and number of fatalities in Wyoming. As of April 8, the state had 27 fatalities due to highway crashes and a low rate of seat belt compliance.
It is especially important to wear seat belts in states like Colorado and Wyoming because the weather and road conditions can change quickly. One motorist said that unexpected changes in the weather frequently occur, and seat belts are helpful during bad weather because they can reduce the amount of injuries one receives. Seat belts also allow people to stay in the car during rollovers, and being ejected from a motor vehicle is especially dangerous.
The number of car accident fatalities so far this year in Wyoming is on par with the number that occurred in an equivalent period in 2014, and some days are apparently more dangerous than others when it comes to the likelihood of being involved in a car accident. About 80 crashes per year take place on Wednesdays while 68 occur on Fridays and 67 happen on Thursdays. When it comes to the reasons for accidents, distracted driving is the biggest cause.
Distracted driving refers to instances where a driver’s attention is taken away from the road and frequently occurs due to texting and driving or talking on the phone. A person who is injured in such an accident that is due to the negligence of a distracted driver may be able to receive compensation for the damages sustained through the filing of a personal injury lawsuit.
Source: KOTA Territory News, “Number of fatal highway crashes in Wyoming is now 27”, Melea VanOstrand, 04/08/2015