Actually, speaking from experience, it is the hospitals who eat the costs of irresponsible parents - most of the time. Government (or private ins.) doesn't even begin to cover the costs of trauma medicine. Add to the mix the large number of uninsured. What to do? If it is the person's right not to wear a seatbelt, then should the hospital should have the right not to treat, since the patient's irresponsibility caused the trauma?
I am a real believer in personal responsibility, but those who refuse to take that responsibility, demand the finest technology to fix them up, then sue if the results are less than satisfactory. People need to be responsible for their own safety, but if they don't, they shouldn't expect to have someone else swoop in and clean up the mess they've made for themselves. BTW, I think that requiring a car seat for an 8 yr old is ridiculous, but having them wear a seat belt is not.
In fact, the answer to this question is Yes.