Ever since you were very young, you may have heard the reminder to fasten your seatbelt when entering a motor vehicle. But you may be embarrassed to admit that, at times, you fall out of the habit of it or simply forget to. In a strike of bad luck, you may enter an auto accident at one of those times you fail to wear one. Well, for this, please continue reading to learn what happens if you get into an accident and you are not wearing a seatbelt and how an experienced Panama City car accident attorney at Manuel & Thompson, PA can help with your recovery plan.

Why is it important to wear a seatbelt?

It is illegal to drive or be a passenger in a motor vehicle without a seatbelt in the state of Florida, and there is good reason for that. Essentially, a seatbelt prevents you from being ejected from the vehicle upon the impact of a crash. Plus, it prevents you from being thrown against other passengers or toward the steering wheel, windshields, or windows. As a driver, its security keeps you behind the wheel so you can still control the vehicle and attempt to minimize further damage. Ultimately, it reduces the risk of serious, life-altering, life-threatening, or life-ending injuries in such an event.

What other safety features in my vehicle must I utilize?

Besides fastening your seatbelt, below are other safety features you must adamantly utilize when operating your vehicle:

  • Utilize your rearview and side mirrors when reversing, merging, changing lanes, etc.
  • Check your tire pressure monitor routinely to prevent a tire blowout on the roads.
  • Turn on your automatic high beams when driving at nighttime in poorly lit areas.
  • Turn on the crash detection or blind spot sensors in your vehicle, if applicable.

What can I do if I get into an accident without wearing a seatbelt?

You may feel guilty and entirely blame yourself if you were not wearing a seatbelt at the time of your car accident. However, you must reflect on the very real possibility that the other involved driver may have been negligent too, ultimately prompting your collision. With this, you may still seize your opportunity to recover damages in a personal injury claim.

Namely, the state of Florida observes the modified comparative negligence system. Here, you may recover damages proportional to your percentage of fault, so long as you are found to be less than 50 percent at fault. So, if the Florida civil court concludes your lack of seatbelt usage made you 40 percent at fault, you may recover 60 percent of your claimed damages. However, you may recover 0 percent of your claimed damages if you were believed to be 60 percent at fault.

As an injured driver or passenger, regardless of your seatbelt usage, there is no one better you can turn to than a skilled Panama City auto accident attorney from our firm. So please, call us at Manuel & Thompson, PA as soon as possible.