Seatbelt Safety: Fatal 3-Car Accident in Columbia, Maryland

Wednesday afternoon, a three-car accident occurred on Cedar Lane, just north of Harriett Tubman Lane. Howard County police said a Jeep Liberty crossed into oncoming traffic on Cedar Lane and hit a Toyota Tacoma. Then in a chain reaction, the Toyota was hit by a Mazda 3 sedan. The driver of the Jeep tragically lost his life in the accident as he was ejected from the car as a result of not wearing his seatbelt. The driver of the Jeep, Ethan Kirshenbaum, was a third-year law student at the University of Baltimore and about to graduate next month.

The drivers and passengers in the two other cars involved in the crash were either treated at the scene or at the hospital, and all are in stable condition. All of the people in the two other cars were wearing their seatbelt.

Just this week, two people have died in car accidents in Maryland and Virginia because they were not wearing a seatbelt. One of the easiest safety mechanisms to use in a car, the seatbelt could have saved two lives. Use of a seatbelt in a car is also required by law in all fifty states. Nationally, just under 90% of people wear a seatbelt in the car. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, wearing a seatbelt can reduce the risk of serious injury and death in a car accident by half. In 2012, about 55% of teens aged 13-20 that died in car crashes were not wearing a seatbelt. In addition, those aged between 18 and 34 are less likely to wear a seatbelt than those over 35. The best thing to do in order to increase seat belt use is for police to get stricter with enforcing seat belt laws.

If you or a family member has been injured or killed in an accident caused by the negligence or fault of another driver in Maryland and would like to consult an experienced personal injury attorney for free, contact us at (410) 995-1515 to schedule an appointment at one of our office locations in Columbia or throughout Maryland or visit us online.