Not Wearing Seat Belt In MN Car Accident Can’t Be Used Against You – MN Lawyers

By David RochlinUncategorized

INJURED IN MN AUTO ACCIDENT NOT WEARING SEAT BELT STILL HAS CASE

Do you still have a case if you were not wearing a seat belt in a car accident? Seatbelts are mandatory in Minnesota. If you are caught driving without wearing a seat belt you will get a ticket. Our lawyers are often asked, “do I still have a case if I was injured in a MN car accident while not wearing a seat belt?” The short answer is yes, you still have a case. Evidence that you were not wearing a seat belt, or that a child restraint was not being used, cannot be used against you. Minnesota Statute 169.685(4) prohibits seat belt evidence in any litigation involving personal injury or property damage,

Car Accident Seatbelt Requirement
Car Accident Seatbelt Requirement

SERIOUS INJURY FROM NOT WEARING SEAT BELT

Without question, seat belts save lives and reduce injuries. Our auto accident lawyers know many people who benefited from having a seat belt on at the time of a crash. However, we also have car accident cases where our client was not wearing a seat belt. Unfortunately, not wearing a seat belt can result in very serious injuries. In many of those cases, the other driver was clearly at fault.

Insurance companies would like to avoid paying compensation when the injury victim was not wearing a seat belt. At this point, a negligent driver has to pay the damages for his or her bad driving, even if the damages would have been less had the victim been wearing a seat belt. However, the insurance industry has been lobbying for years to change this. They would like lack of seat belt use to reduce the compensation they have to pay.

The Rochlin Law Firm car accident attorneys only represent people injured in a car crash in Minnesota. In most cases, the accident is because of a distracted driver, drunk driver, or texting driver. We believe it would be wrong to reduce compensation awards for not wearing a seat belt. The negligent driver’s insurance should still pay medical bills and other necessary compensation.

If you were injured in a car accident in Minnesota, call us and speak with a lawyer for a free consultation about your case.