Most people understand the importance of wearing seat belts when getting into their own vehicle and insist that passengers buckle up too. Unfortunately people seem to frequently forget this when they get into the back seat of a taxicab or limo. Three high profile and deadly accidents have raised new concerns about this:
- Tracy Morgan and his friend were not wearing seat belts when their limo was hit by a Wal-Mart truck, resulting in Tracy Morgan suffering serious injuries and his friend dying.
- Nobel Prize-winning mathematician John Nash and his wife were not wearing seat belts when they were ejected and killed in a taxicab accident earlier this year.
- In his fatal taxi accident earlier this year, CBS correspondent Bob Simon failed to wear a seat belt.
How Not Wearing a Seat Belt Could Affect Your Taxi Accident Settlement
When people do not wear their seat belts, they can suffer more serious injuries and death in taxi crashes. If you were not wearing one, it could affect your case in the following ways:
- Under Texas’ comparative negligence law, the amount of damages you are entitled to would be reduced by your percentage of fault in causing your injuries.
- If your percentage of fault is 50 percent or less, you would still be entitled to some compensation—which could be substantial.
- If your percentage of fault is 51 percent or more, you would not be entitled to any recovery.
The fact that you were not wearing a seat belt would most likely not preclude you from being entitled to a settlement. In fact, Tracy Morgan recently settled his claim in his limo accident for an undisclosed sum. Do not make an even bigger mistake than not buckling up by failing to pursue your claim for compensation against the taxi driver and taxicab company who could be responsible for compensating you.
Have You Been Injured In A Texas Taxi Accident?
If you've been injured in a taxi accident you should speak with an experienced taxi accident attorney as soon as possible. Please contact us online or call our Colleyville office directly at 817.485.8888 to schedule your free consultation.
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