If you have been involved in a road collision whilst not wearing a seatbelt and the accident was not your fault a compensation claim will still be possible. However, failure to wear a seatbelt can result in more serious injuries being suffered and it may be considered that you have contributed towards your own injuries - this in known as contributory negligence.

In such cases where it is thought that a seatbelt would have prevented an injury, the court may deduct up to 25% from the full amount of compensation awarded. In cases where a seatbelt would have significantly reduced the level of injury sustained, the court may deduct in the region of 15% from the compensation awarded. If wearing a seatbelt would have had no impact on the level of injuries sustained, no deduction would be made.

Seatbelts save lives

Seatbelts, lap belts and child car seats are the simplest yet most effective way of staying safe when travelling on the roads. If you are unrestrained and involved in a road collision at a speed of 30mph, you will be thrown with a force of between 30 to 60 times your own body weight.

Wearing a seatbelt as a driver or front seat passenger saves over 2,200 lives every year. Around 40 front seat passengers are killed each year by the impact of a rear seat passenger not wearing a seatbelt.

Wearing a seatbelt can prevent serious injuries such as a brain injury, loss of limbs and fatalities.

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