Car accidents can dramatically alter your life in a matter of seconds. During these unpredictable events, the consequences can range from minor injuries to life-threatening situations. One of the most effective ways to protect yourself in a collision is by wearing a seat belt. This simple yet critical safety measure plays a vital role in keeping occupants secure inside the vehicle, significantly reducing the risk of severe injuries or fatalities. If you’ve been injured in a car accident, please don’t hesitate to contact an experienced Prince George’s County Auto Accident Lawyer who can help you attain reparations. Please continue reading to learn whether you can still obtain compensation in Maryland if you weren’t wearing a seat belt at the time of your accident.
What Are Maryland’s Seat Belt Laws?
Under Maryland law, all drivers and passengers are required to wear a seat belt at all times. Vehicle occupants 16 and older must be buckled up in the front and back seats. Drivers are responsible for ensuring all vehicle occupants are wearing seat belts before operating an automobile on the roadways. Children under 16 must be restrained by a seat belt or a child safety seat. Drivers and passengers who fail to buckle up can be ticketed and fined.
Can You Obtain Compensation for a Car Accident in Maryland if You Weren’t Wearing a Seat Belt?
Seat belts are a vital safety feature found in all automobiles, designed to protect occupants in the event of a crash. As mentioned above, wearing a seat belt can reduce the risk of serious injury or death by keeping passengers securely in their seats and preventing them from being ejected from the vehicle. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), reports that half of the people who were not wearing a seat belt during an accident died from the injuries they sustained. Everyone in the vehicle needs to buckle up every time they travel to ensure their safety and the safety of others.
Negligence laws in Maryland are quite strict for plaintiffs. The state follows the contributory negligence doctrine which bars a plaintiff from recovering compensation for their damages if they are even a little bit responsible for their injuries. Fortunately, an individual’s failure to wear a seat belt does not trigger this stringent rule and should not prevent you from recovering damages in a car accident lawsuit. Essentially, failure to wear a seat belt is not considered contributory negligence in a court of law.
At Timian & Fawcett, LLC, we are prepared to help you fight for the full amount of compensation you need to get your life back on track. Connect with our firm today to discuss your case.
