Blog 
Auto Accidents
Trucking/Tractor Trailer Accidents
- Truck-Car Accidents & Injuries: New Computers & Black Boxes Must Be Analyzed As More Data Available From Truck Computers
- Top Five Causes of Truck Accidents
General Personal Injury Claims We Handle
- Forbes Names Virginia Best for Business, But What About Virginia's Personal Injury System?
- One of our own attorneys is featured in Virginia Lawyers Weekly again.
- Nanotubes Connected to Lung Cancers-New Article Posted
General
Practice Areas
- Auto Accidents
- Railroad Accidents, Occupational injuries/diseases
- Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Wrongful Death Claims
- Surgical Errors, Medical Malpractice
- Trucking/Tractor Trailer Accidents
- General Personal Injury Claims We Handle
Firm News
- Three Die in Multi-Vehicle 1-95 Truck Accident
- Democratic Vice Presidential Nominee Joe Biden Has Tragic History With Truck Accidents
- West Virginia Urologist Fights Two Medical Malpractice Claims
- Truck-Car Accidents/Injuries: New Computers & Black Boxes Allow Far More Data Analysis
- Train and Tanker Truck Collide on NC Highway 49 in Charlotte
- Surgeon sues his own Spinal Surgeon for Medical Malpractice, Alleges Back Surgery Medical Negligence
- Single-Vehicle Tanker Trailer Crash Kills One
- Teen Driver Killed by Garbage Truck
- I-81 Tractor Trailer Accident
- Two Williamsburg, Va., Teens Killed in Crash
Library
Auto Accidents
- High traffic and bad driving cause headaches and accidents
- Road Fatalities Fall as Gas Rises
- Hazardous Road Conditions in Chesapeake, Virginia (VA) Seriously Injuring Motorists
Railroad Accidents, Occupational injuries/diseases
- FELA ENFORCEMENT LEADS TO SAFER WORKPLACE
- Train Accident in Massachusetts Caused by Speed and Possibly Cell Phone
- The Higher Duty Owed by Railroads
Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Head injury: forgotten trauma
- Spinal cord injuries are frightening.
- Hurrican Katrina: Seventeen Months and Counting
Wrongful Death Claims
- Having A Good Support Staff Is Key To Being A Strong Personal Injury And F.E.L.A. Law Firm
- Confidentiality Agreements Keep Information About Personal Injury Settlements From The Public
- Videotaping Lay Witnesses Can Be A Powerful Settlement Tool In Personal Injury And Death Cases
Surgical Errors, Medical Malpractice
- BREAST IMPLANT CASE WINS SUPREME COURT APPEAL
- Five Tips for Choosing a Cardiologist
- Stroke Symptoms & Diagnosis
Trucking/Tractor Trailer Accidents
- FMCSA Hours of Service Regulations
- Six Things You Must Remember if You're in a Truck Accident
- Top 10 Causes of 18-Wheeler Accidents
General Personal Injury Claims We Handle
- INSURANCE COMPANIES CONTINUE TO OVERCHARGE CUSTOMERS AND UNDERPAY CLAIMS
- North Carolina's Court System
- Boating accidents and injuries in Hampton Roads, Virginia (VA)
Co-Counsel
Firm Newsletters
General
What You Need to Know About South Carolina's Seat Belt Laws
If a seat belt is used in the correct fashion, it has been proven to reduce the risk of fatal injury in a crash by up to 44%. If you’re driving in an SUV, pickup truck, or mini-van, that lifesaving potential increases to over 60%. In 2005, approximately 15632 lives were saved by seatbelts across the country.
The Law
Every driver and occupant of a vehicle being operated on public streets and highways in South Carolina must be wearing a safety belt. Unlike other states, this law applies to passengers in the front and back seats of the vehicle.
The driver is responsible for ensuring that all passengers under the age of 17 are wearing seat belts or are properly fastened into a child restraint system. If someone under the age of 17 is not, the driver will receive a ticket. Violation of the seat belt law is a $25 fine.
Drivers are not, however, responsible for occupants who are over 17. Those occupants will receive tickets in their own name, not the driver’s.
South Carolina is a Primary Enforcement State
Since December 9, 2005, South Carolina has been a “primary enforcement” state. This means that a police officer who witnesses a driver or passenger on the road without his seatbelt on may pull the vehicle over for that reason alone. In “secondary enforcement” states, like Virginia, the officer must witness some moving violation before pulling the car over.
The great benefit of the primary enforcement law is the expected increase in seat belt usage among South Carolina residents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that upgrading from a secondary to a primary enforcement law causes an increase of about 11% in seat belt usage. In South Carolina, where pre-change usage was about 70%, we can expect that seat belt usage will increase to about 81%.
This increase in seat belt usage ought to prevent 64 deaths and 650 serious injuries annually. In addition, it should save the state (and its’ taxpayers) about $140 million in emergency vehicle and other crash-related costs each year.
Special Exceptions
There are several exceptions under South Carolina law:
· Drivers or occupants who have a written note form their physician stating that he is not able to wear a seatbelt for physical or medical reasons;
· Medical or rescue personnel attending to the injured or sick individual in emergency vehicles;
· School, church, and day care buses;
· Public transportation (except taxis);
· U.S. mail carriers;
· Parade participants;
· Driver or occupant in a vehicle not originally equipped with a safety belt.
Effect on Driving Record
A seat belt violation is not reported on your permanent driving record at the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, nor is it reported to your car insurance carrier.
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Quick Contact
Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton, P.C.
1294 Diamond Springs Road
Virginia Beach, VA 23455
Toll Free: (800) 752.0042
Phone: (757) 460-7776
Fax: (757) 460.3428
Case Results
Auto Accidents
- Pedestrians Stuck by Automobile Recover $540,000.00
- Chronic Myofascial Pain Syndrome brings verdict of $170,000.00
- Crosswalk Accident With Broken Leg Settles For $227,000.00
- Soft Tissue Injuries Caused by Auto Accident
- Serious Auto Accident Causes Death of Infant
Railroad Accidents, Occupational injuries/diseases
- Railroad-Roadway Crossing Accident - Car Passengers Injured
- FELA
- AMTRAK ENGINEER SETTLES WITH AMTRAK AND CSX OVER DERAILMENT
- Locomotive Engine Fire causes Rail Engineer right arm and wrist surgery
- Shoulder Injury requiring surgery for Locomotive Engineer
Surgical Errors, Medical Malpractice
- Gallbladder Surgery Error
- Medical Negligence
- Pharmacy-Prescription Error
- Gastric Bypass (stomach stapling) Surgery complications
- Retained Surgical Sponge and Subsequent Complications
Trucking/Tractor Trailer Accidents
- Collision Between Two Big Rigs Creates Fireball
- Automobile Accident Causing Coma and Paralysis
- Virginia Automobile Accident
- MACK truck wreck causes leg fractures
- Automobile wreck with drunk driver causes connective tissue injury
General Personal Injury Claims We Handle
- Department Store Shelf Falls on Customer
- Pilot Suffers Electrical Shock Injury At Hotel Ending Commercial Pilot’s Career--Settlement Soon Before Federal Court Jury Trial
Other
- Hotel Guest-Glass Coffee Carafe Shatters-Hand Injury
- Faulty Product - Fiberglass Stepladder Failure
- Skiing Accident
FAQs
Auto Accidents
- What should I do if I am involved in a car accident?
- I was in a car crash. How quickly do I have to find an attorney and file a lawsuit?
- What is the minimum car insurance I'm allowed to carry in my state?
- What is uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage and why should I think about having it?
- Does my state have a primary enforcement law for seat belts?
Surgical Errors, Medical Malpractice
General Personal Injury Claims We Handle
General
- Do I really need a lawyer?
- Can I afford to get into a lawsuit?
- How long will the whole process take?
- What if I do not want to go to court because I am getting nervous about testifying?
- How much am I likely to recover when in court?