Can I Receive a Ticket for Not Wearing my Seatbelt in Florida?

Can I Receive a Ticket for Not Wearing my Seatbelt in Florida

Many of you get in the car and drive every day. And when you do, are you buckling up regularly? Not only is wearing a seatbelt the best safety measure in your car, but it’s the law!

Many people wonder if you can get a ticket for not wearing a seatbelt in Florida. The simple answer? Yes. Wearing a seatbelt in a motorized vehicle is the law in Florida and can result in a ticket, except in a few specific cases.

At Adolphe Law, our Auto accident attorneys in Lake Worth, Florida, have worked with a number of clients who have been in accidents and injured because of a lack of seatbelts. We don’t want that to happen to you! So, buckle up—both because it’s the law and because it’s the best way to keep yourself safe.

Here’s more about the laws around wearing a seatbelt in Florida and how you can avoid contacting an accident attorney in Lake Worth by buckling up.

Wearing a Seatbelt: The Law

Under Florida law (section 316.614 of the Florida Statutes), all drivers, front seat passengers, or passengers under the age of 18 are required to wear a seatbelt. Children are also permitted to be in a booster seat or other child safety restraints.

There are a few exceptions to this law. Those who do not need to wear a seatbelt include:

·   A person with a certified medical condition who cannot wear one.

·   School buses purchased prior to 2000

·   Farm equipment

·   Trucks of more than 26,000 pounds

·   Employees of a newspaper delivery service

These are just exceptions and apply to select cases only. In general, it is illegal not to wear a seatbelt while in a moving vehicle in Florida. This means that you can receive a ticket for not wearing one, as it is against the law.

Wearing a Seatbelt: The Importance

Besides being illegal, wearing a seatbelt is important to keep you safe! Every time you’re in a vehicle, there is some level of inherent risk. These are the best way to mitigate this risk and stay safe.

In the event of a crash, it will prevent you from being ejected from the vehicle or thrown against other passengers. If you’re the driver, it’ll keep you behind the wheel so you can control the car.

The FLHSMV (Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles) reports that wearing a seatbelt reduces your risk of being killed or injured in a motor vehicle crash by almost 50%. So, it’s worth buckling up!

However, if you are in a car crash and receive injuries, you may need to speak with an accident attorney in Lake Worth, Florida. Our Adolphe Law Group team of personal injury lawyers and auto accident attorneys is here to fight on your behalf and help achieve justice. Contact us today to begin the conversation with an accident attorney in Lake Worth.

What to do in a Fender Bender?

Fender Bender

Adolphe Law Group Wants You To Know

You’ve gotten into a fender bender—yikes. A fender bender is a rear-end collision and is quite common. In fact, data shows that 1.7 million rear-end collisions occur each year and cost $871 billion!

But while they’re fairly common, it doesn’t mean that this is not something to be taken seriously. Since fender benders don’t typically cause serious injuries, many people think: is it okay to just exchange contact and insurance information?

The short answer is no. Sharing just your contact and insurance information is not enough. At Adolphe Law Group, our Florida personal injury lawyers have worked with so many clients who have been involved in accidents where the other party is dishonest or unwilling to settle. Therefore, documentation and hard proof of what happened are necessary.

So, if just exchanging your contact information isn’t enough, what should you do in a fender bender? As professional auto accident attorneys at Adolphe Law Group, we recommend the following steps for fender bender:

1.Stop the car and pull over

In most states, it’s against the law to leave after there was an accident, so make sure you get out of the way and turn your hazard lights on.

2.Call the police so they can file a report

This information may be essential in court later on or for your insurance claim. Another reason you should call the police is so they can get emergency care if needed and protect the accident scene.

3.Exchange information

Try not to say too much to the other party, as you don’t want any of your words to be twisted around. It is important, however, to collect each other’s personal contact information (name, address, phone, email) and driver/insurance information (license number, insurance information, make and model of the car). If there are eyewitnesses, collect their information too.

4.Call your insurance provider

Report the accident to them and use the information from the police report to back up your claim.

5.Get legal help

If things cannot be resolved through this process, you may need legal help. This is especially important if you have been injured in an accident. Call us at Adolphe Law Group to speak to one of our personal injury lawyers who can manage the details of your case.

These tips are important if you caused the accident but even more important if you did not. If you get into a fender bender and the other person insists that it’s okay just to share contact information, be very wary. Some people will not want to have to pay for damages caused by their reckless driving and give you false contact information.

To be safe, involve the authorities and get a police report completed. Then you have some hard proof of what happened should there be a need for legal action. Our personal injury lawyers at Adolphe Law Group will be able to advocate for you and get the justice you deserve.

If you want to talk to an accident attorney in Lake Worth, contact the Adolphe Law Group. We are here for you and will fight on your behalf!