Legally, all individuals driving in a motor vehicle in Los Angeles are supposed to wear a seatbelt. What should you do if you weren’t wearing your seatbelt in your car accident in Los Angeles, CA? Go over your legal options here with the Simmrin Law Group.
You can get professional advice about the best way to move forward after a collision with our car accident lawyers in Los Angeles. Call us at (310) 896-2723 so we can work to bring you compensation for your losses, even if you weren’t wearing your seatbelt during your wreck.
Results of Not Wearing a Seatbelt in a Los Angeles Car Accident
According to California’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), you can face a citation if you drive in a motor vehicle without a seatbelt. You can be cited even if another driver hit you and caused a car accident while you weren’t wearing a seatbelt.
You may also be partially blamed for your injuries if you are not wearing a seatbelt and you are in a collision. The other driver may attempt to use the “seatbelt defense” to avoid compensating you for your injuries.
Note that passengers can also be cited if they are not wearing a seatbelt in a vehicle in California. If the passenger is under the age of 16, you can face the citation.
For a free legal consultation, call (310) 896-2723
The Seatbelt Defense and Comparative Negligence in California
If you were in a car accident and you were not wearing your seatbelt, it’s important that you contact a car accident lawyer right away. Failure to wear a seatbelt can work against you after a collision. Because California uses comparative negligence rules, some of your injuries may be blamed on you if you weren’t wearing appropriate safety gear.
Insurance representatives for other drivers involved in the collision may argue that:
- Your injuries were more severe because you weren’t wearing a seatbelt
- You wouldn’t have been injured at all if you were wearing a seatbelt
These arguments can decrease the amount of compensation you receive for your medical expenses, even if you weren’t responsible for the accident. Call (310) 896-2723 to get professional help if you were in an accident and weren’t wearing your seatbelt.
Allow a Lawyer to Help if You Weren’t Wearing Your Seatbelt in a Collision
You can still get compensation if you were in a car accident and you weren’t wearing your seatbelt in California. A legal professional can take steps to show that your injuries would have occurred regardless of whether or not you were wearing your seatbelt. This can help you get damages to cover:
- An ambulance ride and emergency medical care
- Surgeries and a hospital stay
- Physical therapy and medications
Additionally, you may be entitled to damages to cover repair costs to your vehicle, even if you weren’t wearing a seatbelt. Your usage of a seatbelt will not impact how badly your vehicle was damaged in a car accident in Los Angeles.
Build a Claim if You Weren’t Wearing Your Seatbelt in a Car Accident in Los Angeles
Getting help from a legal professional can allow you to build a strong claim after a motor vehicle collision in Los Angeles. Your lawyer will need to gather evidence about your case quickly to improve your chances of getting full compensation.
Note that you will only have two years to file a personal injury claim after a car accident in California. You have three years to file a claim for property damage. Once this time period passes, you can no longer seek compensation for your losses, even if you were wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident.
The team at the Simmrin Law Group can begin working on your claim right now. We are prepared to negotiate with insurance agents on your behalf. We can also help you file a lawsuit, in some situations. Begin going over all your legal options by contacting us right now.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now
Contact a Lawyer if You Weren’t Wearing Your Seatbelt in a Car Accident
What should you do if you weren’t wearing your seatbelt in your car accident in Los Angeles, CA? You should seek medical care and reach out to a legal professional to get help. You can contact the Simmrin Law Group now by calling (310) 896-2723 or filling out our online contact form.
You can get a FREE initial case evaluation from our car accident lawyers in Los Angeles right now.
Call or text (310) 896-2723 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form