The New Year is almost upon us and if you are like many Americans, the last days of this year may be spent putting together a list of resolutions. Each year, Americans assemble lists of New Year’s resolutions that will help them become better people in the coming year. Popular resolutions often include fitness-related goals like losing weight, eating healthier or joining a gym and personal health goals like quit smoking, cut back on sugar, or eat less red meat. However, New Year’s resolutions are difficult to continue for the entire 365 days, since they often require big lifestyle changes and face it, for many of us—change is difficult! But not all resolutions have to be tough. For example, one resolution that is relatively painless but can have a potentially huge impact one’s life is quite simple to keep, and that is to buckle up each and every time you drive or are a passenger in a vehicle.

Resolving always to wear your seat belt may not sound like a big deal, but it is the one thing everyone can do—to help save a life. The life may be your own, or it could be that of one of your passengers. Make it a rule that no one rides in your car without wearing his or her seatbelt. If you have doubts that wearing a seat belt is worth the 5-second effort, please consider the following:

1. It is estimated that seat belt usage reduces the serious crash-related injuries and deaths by close to 50 percent.
2. In 2014 alone, seat belts saved more than 12,800 lives.
3. People, who have not been wearing a seatbelt, have been killed in accidents where the vehicle was traveling as slow as 12 mph.
4. A driver, who is not wearing a seat belt, has 42 times greater risk of being killed in an accident than a driver who is wearing a seat belt.
5. In a 30 mph car crash, a driver or passenger who is unbuckled will hit the windshield with the same impact as if he or she had fallen from a three-story building.
6. Airbags are great but are not a substitute for seat belts. The main purpose of a seat belt is to keep the person inside of the car in the event of an accident. Airbags do not help keep people inside of the vehicle. According to some experts, being thrown from a vehicle is the number one cause of death in crashes.

If these reasons are not enough, remember that wearing a seat belt is the law in all states except for New Hampshire, and failure to wear one could result in a fine. Motorists in Kansas, a state with primary seat belt laws, can be pulled over if the officer has reason to believe that the driver or front seat passengers are not buckled up, while in Missouri most areas only have secondary laws.

If you or a loved one was seriously injured after being involved in an automobile accident, it is important to contact an experienced Kansas City Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Attorney promptly. The seasoned Kansas City Injury Attorneys at Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. will evaluate your case and determine whether you hold another party liable for your injuries and suffering. Our skilled Attorneys are prepared to fight until we obtain justice for you. Trust the Personal Injury Attorneys at Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. to work for you, just as they have worked for countless injury victims around the area, both in Kansas and Missouri. To schedule a consultation with one of our compassionate Injury Attorney contact Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. today at (816) 472-4673.

Everything about winter is cold, which does not necessarily make for fun driving. Snow, black ice, sub-zero wind chills, freezing rain, and the like can all make winter driving a challenge. In fact, the only the thing that seems not to be cooler in the winter is the temperaments of motorists. There is something about winter driving that tends to make tempers flare! Sometimes it is the driver that is driving 20 plus miles below the posted speed limit—just because it started to snow. Alternatively, maybe it is the driver in the van who failed to clean off the roof of their vehicle, sending a sheet of ice your way. Whatever it may be, there is certainly enough annoyances related to winter driving that gets motorists hot under the collar. While we all get temporarily upset by the actions of other drivers, some people take it a bit too far. Losing one’s cool behind the wheel is not only a dumb thing to do, but it can also be dangerous.

In a survey conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, found that nearly 9 out of every ten drivers believed that aggressive drivers were to some degree a threat to their personal safety. By learning to control your emotions when behind the wheel, you help ensure a safer trip for both you and your passengers. The following are some of the best tips to help you stay cool behind the wheel this winter:

• Leave ample space between you and the vehicle in front of you. When you keep your distance from the car in front of you, it is easier to stay cool. Space acts as a buffer both physically and emotionally. This way when the driver in front of you keeps braking for no apparent reason, you are not forced to react as quickly as you would if you were driving much closer to him or her.

• Conduct yourself in a way to set an example. If you are a parent or regularly drive with children in your vehicle, remember that they are watching and listening to your every move. Try to conduct yourself in a way that you would want them to act if they were behind the wheel.

• Make plan to have a good trip. Maybe your drive home from work is your time to decompress from the day and transition to greeting your family at home. This quiet time is valuable and can be enjoyable if you set your mind to it. Instead of getting upset, listen to your favorite tunes and relax.

• Take care of yourself. Feelings of road rage are much more likely to creep into your mind if you are stressed, tired or just plain running late. So do yourself a favor and make sure that you are fit and ready to drive before getting behind the wheel.

If you or a loved one was seriously injured after being involved in an automobile accident this winter, it is important to contact an experienced Kansas City Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Attorney right away. The seasoned Kansas City Injury Attorneys at Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. will evaluate your case and determine whether you hold another party liable for your injuries and suffering. Our team of skilled Attorneys is prepared to fight until justice has been served. Trust the Personal Injury Attorneys at Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. to work for you, just as they have worked for countless injury victims around the area, both in Kansas and Missouri. To schedule a consultation with one of our compassionate Injury Attorney contact Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. today at (816) 472-4673.