Why Obesity Increases Fatality Risk Without Seatbelts 1. Poor Seatbelt Fit Obese individuals often experience misaligned lap and shoulder belts, which can ride up or twist. This misfit reduces the belt’s ability to restrain the body properly, increasing the chance of ejection or internal injury. 2. Delayed Airbag Deployment Larger body mass can alter crash sensor timing, causing airbags to deploy milliseconds too late. That delay can be fatal in high-speed collisions. 3. Increased Internal Force