For most people, buckling up once they get into a car is a habit. This is good news since seat belts were designed to save lives and reduce injuries. In the event of a car crash or collision, they can potentially prevent you from being ejected from the car. In addition, their use is also required by law in the state of Georgia.
There is no justifiable reason for not wearing your seatbelt in the car no matter if you are the driver or a passenger as this small step could mean the difference between a mild injury and a fatality. Moreover, if you are in a car accident while not wearing a seatbelt, you vastly increase your likelihood of catastrophic injuries and will receive a traffic violation. This violation can have a severely negative impact on any personal injury claim that you file after the car crash. If you’ve been injured in a car accident in Georgia, the experienced Georgia car accident attorneys at the Nye Law Group can help.
Defending Your Personal Injury Claim
Insurance companies are for-profit businesses who seek to give out substantially less than they bring in. The way that this affects the individual driver seeking to file a personal injury claim after a car crash is that an insurance adjuster is going to try to minimize the amount that you are awarded. His job is to protect the companies assets by saving as much of their money as he possibly can.
Even with the most legitimate of claims and an experienced personal injury attorney in your corner, you will likely have to fight to get what you are truly owed. In cases where you weren’t wearing a seatbelt, the added complication of not utilizing the legally required, primary safety device in the car can cause an end to your claim. An insurance adjuster will likely claim that because you were not buckled up at the time of the accident, you are at least partially at fault for the injuries you sustained.
Georgia Comparative Negligence
Fortunately, the state of Georgia practices comparative negligence in car accident cases. Comparative negligence means that the injured party may still be able to recover some of their damages even if it is determined that they were partially to blame. Under this law, if you are found to be the one at least 50% responsible for the accident, you will be unable to collect on a personal injury claim. You may collect damages only if the other party was found to be 50% or more at fault for the accident. Proving these claims in your favor and ensuring you receive the compensation you deserve requires an excellent personal injury attorney by your side fighting for you.
Georgia Car Accident Attorney
An experienced, knowledgeable Georgia personal injury lawyer can help you prove liability in your case and ensure that you receive all the fair compensation that you are entitled to under the law. If you or someone you love has been injured in a car crash, contact the team at Nye Law Group. Our lawyers will review the facts of your case with an exceptional attention to detail and thorough knowledge of the law. We include you in every step of the process and will discuss what we can do for you and your case. Contact us at 912-200-5230 and take advantage of our free consultation with one of our licensed attorneys.
