What Do Florida’s Seat Belt Laws Say?
All drivers must wear a seat belt while operating a vehicle.- All passengers in the front seat of a vehicle must wear a seatbelt.
- Any passenger under the age of 18 in the backseat of a vehicle must wear a seat belt.
- Children three and under must be a in a federally approved restraint seat.
- Children age four or five must be in a federally approved restraint seat or safety belt.
If you still have questions and would like more information about these laws or any other legal issue, please reach out to Meldon Law today.
No Seat Belt? Five Facts About The Florida Seat Belt Defense
Wearing a seat belt significantly increases the odds of surviving a Florida car crash. Not only can failing to buckle up raise the chance of death or serious injury, it also could reduce the amount of compensation that a victim is entitled to recover following an accident.
When Florida courts allow for a reduction to a plaintiff’s right to damages for failing to wear a seat belt, this is referred to as the “seat belt defense.” The following are five facts about this defense:
- A victim’s injuries are often made worse by the secondary injuries that occur as a result of the failure to wear seat belts. It may not be fair to hold the defendant responsible for all of a victim’s injuries if they were significantly worsened by not wearing a seat belt.
- The defendant may try to prove that the victim was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident.
- The defendant also may try to prove that the victim had a fully functional seat belt available at the time of the crash.
- The defendant may allege that the failure to wear a seat belt caused or worsened the victim’s injuries, not his or her negligence.
- This can result in a reduction of all or a portion of the damages awarded.
Hello, I am Jeffrey Meldon. As an accident and personal injury attorney, I strongly believe that public education is the first step in the prevention of an accident or in the recovery from one.
Everyone in my office works hard to help accident victims get the justice and the fair settlement or jury verdict that they deserve throughout the state of Florida area as we have offices in Gainesville, Ocala, and Ft. Lauderdale. I am highly involved with every case in my office and am the negotiator with insurance companies.
You can feel free to give me a call at 800-373-8000 or contact my office, with any questions you may have, or to discuss your unique case.
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