Did you know that if you are involved in a car accident in New Brunswick, and you are not wearing a seatbelt, your damages can be reduced by 25%! The reason for this rule is that individuals who do not wear seatbelts often suffer more serious injuries in car accidents and therefore have larger potential claims. The 25% reduction benefits insurance companies, who would otherwise have to pay for the larger claims. However, if the individual can prove that they would have suffered the same injuries, even if they were wearing a seatbelt, then their damages will not be reduced.
While you may find seatbelts annoying, they can protect you against serious injuries in the event of a car accident, such as being ejected from the car. People who are not wearing seatbelts often suffer the most serious injuries in car accidents and are sometimes even fatally injured.
New Brunswick law states that you are not allowed to modify your seatbelt or render the seatbelt partially or wholly inoperable. This means that you cannot wear part of the seatbelt behind your back or change any other parts of the seatbelt. We have witnessed drivers modify their seatbelt length with pins to make them more comfortable. This violates the Motor Vehicle Act and could result in a fine or an injury. Always wear your seatbelt in a properly secured and adjusted manner.
The best advice is always to buckle up!
This blog entry contains information of a general nature only and should not be relied on for legal advice. The information is current only to the date of publication and may be subject to change.
