Multi-Vehicle Accident In Miami Demolishes Bus Stop
Several people were injured the other afternoon in an accident involving a medical van, a pick-up truck and a tree-trimming truck. The medical van, which hit a bus stop bench, began the chain of events in which the other vehicles crashed while attempting to avoid an accident with the medical van. As a result of the accident, one person who had been inside the medical van was thrown from the vehicle through the window. Though the details of the accident are not clear, one witness to the accident stated that the person thrown from the medical van was not wearing a seat belt.
Seat Belts Save Lives
It is hard to argue with the facts – seat belts do, in fact, save countless lives every year. That alone is a great reason to buckle up – but it is also the law in Florida. According to Florida Code Section 316.614, otherwise known as the Florida Safety Belt Law, most people in passenger cars, trucks and vans must wear seat belts and it is against the law to operate a vehicle if those people are not belted in. Those who must be secured with a seat belt, or in a car seat, include:
- Drivers of all ages;
- Front seat passengers of all ages; and
- Anyone under the age of eighteen regardless of where they are seated within the vehicle.
Exceptions To The Rule
By looking at the law, it appears that only adults eighteen and older who are sitting in the back seat of a vehicle are permitted to ride without restraint. There are, however, a number of other exceptions that pertain mainly to those engaged in certain occupations (such as rural newspaper or mail delivery personnel and garbage truck drivers), or who are being transported in vehicles that fall into specific categories (including school and charter buses, farm equipment, and trucks with vehicle weights higher a specified amount), or which are not required by law to be equipped with seat belts. You can also ride without a seat belt if you have documentation from a medical provider which states that wearing a seat belt would be dangerous or inappropriate due to a medical condition.
Non-Compliance Can Be Held Against You
What can happen if you do not follow the Florida Safety Belt Law? Violating the law is a nonmoving violation subject to penalties, but a violation can also be used against you in a civil action when determining comparative negligence. Just wear the belt and enjoy a higher level of safety on the roads.
Reach Out to Us for Help
Using a seat belt will help prevent injuries, but the accidents that cause injuries will still occur. When you have been involved in an accident, turn to the legal professionals you can trust for solid legal guidance and representation. At Boone & Davis, we have helped accident victims just like you to obtain the compensation they deserve for their injuries. Our Fort Lauderdale auto accident attorneys will work with you to obtain the best possible results. Reach out to us at 954.556.5260 or visit us online to schedule your appointment today.
Resource:
local10.com/news/3-people-injured-after-medical-van-slams-into-miami-bus-bench
