Officers Highlight the Importance of Seat Belts After Saving Child from Tampa Collision

According to the Florida Department of Transportation, almost 90% of motorists and passengers use their seat belts. Although this number might seem encouraging, it is clearly not perfect. This still means that about 1 out of every 10 people fail to use this crucial safety device. This is the equivalent of millions of people every day. A recent incident highlights how important seat belts can be, and it involves a Tampa car accident that almost claimed the life of a small child.

Rescue of Small Child Highlights Importance of Seat Belts 

In June of 2025, Fox News reported that police in Tampa had successfully rescued a seven-year-old child from a serious car accident. The accident ended in such a way that one vehicle was sitting on top of another at a “strange angle.” This presented a challenge for first responders, who needed to rescue the occupants inside without tipping over the entire vehicle.

After an officer managed to pry open a passenger door, a parent inside immediately requested that his child be rescued first. The officer agreed to extricate the child, and everyone was eventually removed from the vehicle safely. Police later noted that if the occupants had failed to wear their seat belts, the consequences would have probably been worse.

What if I Didn’t Wear My Seat Belt Before a Tampa Crash? 

If you didn’t wear your seat belt prior to a crash in Tampa, you might face various challenges when pursuing compensation for your injuries. Florida is now a modified comparative negligence state, which means you’ll lose the right to sue if you were more than 50% responsible for your own injuries. Theoretically, the failure to wear a seat belt could meet this threshold.

That being said, you shouldn’t give up hope simply because you forgot to wear your seat belt. An experienced lawyer may be able to guide you toward meaningful compensation, regardless of the comparative negligence statute. For example, you might argue that your injuries would have occurred anyway, whether you were wearing a seat belt or not.

You might also argue that your failure to wear a seat belt represents a level of negligence below 50%. An experienced lawyer can help you make these arguments with compelling evidence. Consider speaking with a personal injury attorney if you’re not sure whether you can file a valid injury claim.

Can a Tampa Auto Accident Lawyer Help Me? 

After a car accident in Tampa, you might want to contact a personal injury lawyer. These legal professionals can help you pursue the compensation you deserve after suffering injuries. Although you might face various challenges if you didn’t wear your seat belt prior to the collision, you may still be eligible to pursue compensation. Contact our Tampa car accident lawyers at Anderson & Anderson today for more information.

Sources: 

fox13news.com/news/video-tampa-police-rescue-child-from-vehicle-crash

fdot.gov/agencyresources/clickitorticket#:~:text=The%20national%20safety%20belt%20use,in%20five%20were%20completely%20unrestrained.