Considering the frequency of traffic crashes in the United States, there is a good chance that you have already been in at least one car accident, and if you haven't already, you may be in one in the future.

Even if you are an excellent driver with years of experience under your belt, you cannot control what other drivers do, only how you "react" to them. Sometimes, if another driver is driving while texting, or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you don't have time to react.

The best way to protect yourself is to wear a seat belt and ensure that your passengers do the same. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), auto accidents are the #1 leading cause of death for people between the ages of 1 and 54 in the United States. If everyone wore seatbelts, thousands of lives would be spared every year.

How much to seat belts help?

In the U.S., over 2.2 million people are treated in emergency rooms annually after being injured in a traffic-related accident, the CDC reports. Research has found that the most effective way to save lives is to wear seat belts, yet millions of Americans don't buckle up.

According to the CDC:

• Seat belt use has reduced crash-related injuries and deaths by about 50 percent.
• While airbags provide additional protection, they are NOT a substitute for seat belts.
• The greatest protection for adults is provided by the combined use of airbags and seat belts.
• Men in general, and adults between the ages of 18 and 34 are less likely to wear seat belts.

Whether you're driving in the city, the suburbs, or a rural area, please don't forget to wear your seat belt. You never know when something can go wrong, and if it ever does, your seat belt can save your life.

If you were injured in a traffic crash, scroll through this directory to find an experience car accident attorney near you!