The Seat Belt Defense
The seat belt defense is legal in New York and New Jersey, as well as in 13 other states. It is used by a driver who causes an accident and wants to reduce their legal liability and their insurer's financial liability for covering medical costs incurred by the injured party. If the injured party was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident but should have been, the defense attorney will use expert witnesses to assess what the injuries would have been had the injured party been wearing a seatbelt. The injured party may, therefore, only claim compensation for what the injuries would have been not what they actually were.
The Legal Theory Behind the Law
The defense is based on what is called torts law. Torts are injuries caused by accident or negligence, rather than intentional criminal behavior. If someone were to ram another car with the premeditated intention of injuring or killing the other driver and passengers, then the seat belt defense would not apply. The injuries must result from another person, or legal entity's, negligence or wrongdoing. The guilty party may have not seen the light turn red and kept driving through the intersection. This would be an example of negligence. If the driver was texting while driving and hits another vehicle, that would be an example of wrongdoing.
The Issue of Comparative Negligence
New York and New Jersey law requires "both sides of the issue" to be examined. It may be obvious that one driver did not see the red light, so is at fault, but if the injured driver had been traveling at more than the speed limit, for example, then that driver may also be partly responsible. The argument would be that if they had been within the speed limit, they would not have arrived at the intersection at the same time, so the accident would never have happened. The result is that under New York law if the injured party shares some blame, then their claim for damages will be reduced. Not wearing a seatbelt carries the risk of being found at fault and partially to blame for all of the injuries suffered.
The Takeaway
The law permits a driver who is injured in a car wreck to claim compensation and it permits anyone being sued to defend themselves against unfair claims. The law also requires drivers to take all necessary precautions to avoid an accident and to minimize potential injury regardless of the cause. Drivers, therefore, should:
- Wear a seatbelt.
- Drive safely.
- Obey the rules of the road.
And if injured, seek immediate medical advice because not seeking a doctor's advice or care could result in a worsening of the injury.
Laws are complex and nuanced, it always pays anyone involved in a road accident to seek legal advice so the strongest case possible can be brought to court. To this end we will be happy to discuss your case and decide how best to move forward. Please contact us by clicking this link.
