Auto accidents can be incredibly tragic. If you’ve ever seen one on the side of the road, you know how bad the damage can be. You can only hope that the people involved were wearing seatbelts during the crash. Even people involved in low-speed crashes can suffer serious, life-threatening (or even fatal) injuries—and the risks are even greater if they’re not wearing seatbelts.
The most important thing you can do when you get into your car—or someone else’s car—is to buckle up. Make it a habit of fastening your seatbelt (and telling your passengers to buckle their seatbelts) before you even put the key in the ignition. The primary reason is safety. There’s a secondary reason, though, and it involves what happens after a car crash.
The injury attorneys at Phoenix Accident and Injury Law Firm near you have significant experience in helping clients who have been in an auto accident. Our offices are conveniently located in nearby Chandler, Peoria, and North Phoenix, and we can meet in-person at our nearby offices, over the phone, or video call. You can contact us for a free consultation, or read on to find out more.
By the way, we will also help with other problems that have cost you sleep, like getting a rental car very soon and finding a nearby doctor who can help you. Even the best legal team isn’t good enough if your quality of life isn’t sustainable while justice and compensation are on the way. The whole point of legal action is to regain quality of life, so we help you long-term as attorneys and short-term as your go-to people. Our familiarity with the local Phoenix courts makes us confident that we can help you get the best settlement possible.
Does Arizona Law require you to wear a seatbelt?
The short answer is yes. Arizona law requires you to wear seatbelts when you’re in the front seat of a vehicle that is able to carry 10 or fewer people. Because you’re supposed to act like a “reasonable person” under the law, you’re supposed to obey the requirement and buckle yourself in. You’re also supposed to insist that your front-seat passengers are buckled and that all passengers under the age of 16 are wearing seatbelts, no matter where they are in the vehicle.
Will NOT wearing a seatbelt affect your compensation for injuries?
If you get injuries in a car accident, it’s important to know that Arizona is a comparative fault state. That means if the defense can prove that your injuries are due to your failure to wear a seatbelt—even if the person who caused the car accident was completely at fault—you may be denied compensation.
However, that does not mean that you shouldn’t try to file a lawsuit to help pay for your medical costs, lost wages, and other financial burdens if you were not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident. Only a licensed Arizona personal injury lawyer can give you case-specific advice, so it can’t hurt to call for a free consultation to find out whether you may be able to seek compensation for your injuries.
Get Help Now
At Phoenix Accident and Injury Law Firm near you, we have more than 15 years of experience helping clients obtain compensation for their personal injuries in the Phoenix area. When you’re ready to talk, please contact our office to arrange a free initial consultation by phone or at our Chandler office, conveniently located near you.
If you have been in an auto accident, contact Phoenix Accident and Injury Law Firm in nearby Chandler, AZ to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney. We provide personal injury legal services to clients in your area including Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Scottsdale, Tempe, and Peoria.
