Yesterday, an accident in Eagle Lake left a father and his two children in critical condition after their pickup truck collided into the back of a city bus. While there were minor injuries to passengers of the city transportation, the driver of the truck, 36-year old Jaron Skipper and his two young children, Emma (age 7) and John (age 4) were left with life-threatening injuries and are currently in critical condition at Tampa General. Sadly, neither Jaron or his daughter were wearing seat belts, and while we know John was listed as having on a seatbelt at the time of the accident, we are not clear on whether or not he was wearing an age-appropriate form of restraint.
Situations such as these are not only heartbreaking, but also frustrating and unnecessary. No one likes seeing children seriously hurt, especially when it could have been prevented, and in this specific case, seat belt usage and proper restraint could have eliminated, or lessened, the injuries to the kids in the pickup truck. “Buckle Up, It’s the Law” is a phrase we are accustomed to seeing plastered over billboards along the highway, on social media pages, and in all types of advertisement by both law enforcement and the DMV. Unfortunately though, cases like yesterday’s incident are still happening, and children and adults alike are still suffering the consequences of failing to follow the law and use their seat belt.
We urge you to consider not only your own safety, but the safety of your children and others when you choose to operate a vehicle without restraint. Is your life, or theirs, worth the risk of going without a seat belt? Additionally, consider that if you are pulled over, you will face the consequences of breaking the law by riding unbuckled. This will end up costing you money out of pocket to pay of the ticket and, if required, any legal fees. No one expects to get in an accident, but we know the unexpected happens every day, and leaves families torn apart. Don’t let it happen to you and the ones you love.
When the unexpected does happen, Sessums Law Group stands for you. We not only navigate the waters of your legal representation, but we also make it our personal goal to get any compensation you deserve following an accident and/or resulting injury. If you are in the Lakeland, Sarasota, or Tampa region, give us a call. We have multiple locations and can go over your case and help you decide if we are the best fit for you and your needs.
Stay safe on our roads, and buckle up!