Does Not Wearing a Seat Belt Affect Car Accident Claims in Ohio

Car accidents happen far more often than we like to think. and if you’ve been in a car accident when you weren’t wearing your seatbelt, you may be wondering if this can decrease available compensation in your personal injury case.

Unfortunately, there isn’t any easy way to answer that question without taking a look at your specific situation. One of the most important things you can do for your injury claim – whether you wear a seatbelt or not – is to work with a dedicated Ohio personal injury firm like Cooper Elliott to determine the details of your case and your potential compensation.

Ohio Seatbelt Laws

As a general rule, wearing a seatbelt is an essential part of operating a vehicle safely.

Seatbelts save lives and reduce the severity of injuries in accidents, being the primary component that prevents deadly ejections during rollovers.

In Ohio, the seatbelt laws are governed by Ohio Revised Code § 4513.263, which mandates that all drivers and passengers in the front seat must wear seatbelts while the vehicle is in motion. Additionally, all passengers under 15 years old must be wearing a seatbelt or harness, regardless of their seating location within the vehicle.

When these guidelines are ignored, they can result in fines and more.

For a free legal consultation, call 614-481-6000

Ohio’s Comparative Negligence System

Understanding how your compensation can be affected by your lack of a seatbelt is crucial to your personal injury case.

Ohio has adopted what is known as a “comparative negligence” system, which means that the courts will apply a comparative negligence standard to any compensation you’re awarded. This means that if you are found to be partially at fault for your injuries, by not wearing a seatbelt, your potential compensation can be reduced by a proportionate amount.

This sounds complex, but it is relatively simple. If you are awarded $100,000 in damages but are found to be 25% at fault for your injuries for not wearing a seatbelt, your damages would be reduced by that same 25%, meaning you are awarded $75,000.

With Ohio’s comparative negligence framework, however, as long as you were not found to be more than 50% at fault, you should still be eligible for some degree of compensation.

Compensation In Your Car Accident Case

Since you can still obtain compensation if you weren’t wearing your seatbelt, it’s important to learn what else can affect that compensation.

Here are additional factors that can impact how much compensation you receive:

The overall severity of your injuries
If there are long-term or permanent disabilities or disfigurements
Total medical costs, both current and all future related costs
Pain and suffering, which is the non-economic compensation you can receive for serious injuries due to the intense mental suffering that happened
Emotional distress and trauma

While not wearing your seatbelt does not directly decrease your available compensation in Ohio, it can have significant indirect effects if you are found to be partially at fault. To make sure your case is as strong as possible, you should always work with experienced Ohio personal injury attorneys like our team at Cooper Elliott.

Click to contact our personal injury lawyers today

Contact Cooper Elliott Today

At Cooper Elliott, we have a seasoned legal team that is dedicated to advocating for your rights and fighting for you to receive maximum compensation. Our team has a deep understanding of the complex Ohio personal injury process and can help you build the strongest case possible to recover every bit of compensation you may be entitled to. Reach out today to get started.

Call or text 614-481-6000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form

Recent Reviews

Click here to review us on Google

Christina Coppel

13:06 16 Oct 24

I worked with Rex and Adam along with multiple others. The team was extremely knowledgeable and transparent through my entire case to help me best understand my options. I felt supported during a very difficult time and was confident in the advice I received.

Sara Eldred

23:35 03 Aug 24

I am incredibly grateful for the exceptional service provided by Sean Alto, Ben Cooper, Sommer Donnelly, and the entire team at Cooper Elliott during my personal injury case. Sean took on my case with urgency, compassion, and expertise that made a challenging time filled with uncertainty much more manageable.Their thorough understanding of the legal process, combined with a compassionate approach, ensured that I felt supported and informed every step of the way. They fought tirelessly on my behalf, resulting in a settlement that exceeded my expectations.I highly recommend Sean, Ben, or any of the phenomenal experts with Cooper Elliott to anyone in need of a personal injury attorney. Their commitment to their clients and their ability to achieve outstanding results truly sets them apart. Thank you, Sean and the Cooper Elliott team for your hard work and for helping me achieve justice. I couldn't imagine going through something like this with anyone else.

Michelle Clever

21:51 16 Jul 24

Attorney Kaela King is an exceptional legal professional who I wholeheartedly recommend for anyone seeking expert legal counsel. Attorney King demonstrated unparalleled dedication, expertise, and empathy.Her deep knowledge of the law combined with her sharp analytical skills ensured that every aspect of my case was thoroughly examined and strategically handled. What truly sets Attorney King apart is her genuine care for her clients. She took the time to listen attentively to my concerns, explained complex legal jargon in a clear manner, and always kept me informed about the progress of my case.Throughout the entire process, Attorney King exhibited a high level of professionalism and integrity. She approached each challenge with confidence and determination, consistently advocating for my best interests. Her proactive approach and meticulous attention to detail instilled a sense of confidence in me that I was in capable hands.Thanks to Attorney King's hard work and dedication, I am immensely grateful for her support and guidance during a challenging time. If you are searching for a trustworthy and highly skilled attorney who genuinely cares about her clients, look no further than Attorney Kaela King. She is a true advocate for justice and a beacon of excellence in the legal profession.

Steven Ulry

13:47 10 Jul 24

For the most part when you need legal representation something has not gone well. You are concerned, anxiety is up, you feel low, even frightened, and there does not seem to be a light anywhere around. Thus, I am very happy that I called CooperElliott. Much of that despair began to lift, I knew I had someone behind me, in front of me, beside me, and that I was not alone. I was treated like I had been a client for forever by everyone I was in contact with and met with. A great firm that will fight for you, and that means a great deal when you need someone who will do that with you. Thank you CooperElliott.

Felix Santiago Miralles Hernandez

15:35 09 May 24

Ben good lawyer, he schedule a zoom to hear my case. Could not help me, but he answer every question i had. Help me what i need to do next, i was very helpfull. Recommended. Type of lawyer that is no looking fo the money, he really wanted to help.

Megan Frognowski

13:14 29 Apr 24

I highly recommend Kaela King. She provided efficient and effective legal consultation over the phone and via email. Her communications were clear, timely, and respectful.

Annie Lewis

18:41 23 Apr 24

I highly recommend Kaela King. She provided compassionate and supportive legal consultation over the phone that provided me with clear guidance and answers to my legal questions.

Federico Rubiano

19:47 05 Apr 24

Even though Mr. Cooper wasn’t able to take my case, he was kind enough to point me in the right direction and answer all my questions, regarding my matter. I appreciate your time!

Kim Hoover

14:54 03 Apr 24

Through the law firm Cooper Elliott, I dealt with attorney, Bart Keyes. Bart was very thorough and understood that I Had no clue of how this process would go. Bart took the time needed to help educate me on this process for a very positive outcome.I can’t thank Bart and the staff at Cooper Elliott enough for all they have done for me. I am now able to move on with my life!

Anthony Johnson

16:51 29 Mar 24

My name is Anthony Johnson and I just spoke with Ben Cooper about a wrongful accusation case, unfortunately they don't take on cases such as these but Ben gave me some valuable information and I could tell he really was trying to help me. Very knowledgeable and a great listener. Give him all call for anything law related. Made me feel important.

Brian Hewitt

03:46 23 Mar 24

I worked with Adam Richards and his team. They were empathetic to my situation and extremely professional. I don't know what I would have done without their expert guidance and counsel. Adam really knows his stuff, and it was clear he had an excellent rapport with all who assisted in the case. Adam's communication abilities were next level. I never had to worry about getting ahold of him when needed. I know he and his team will continue to knock it out of the park for all future clients like they did for me.

Chris Sullivan

14:10 02 Mar 24

My husband, Bob and I were injured in an automobile accident in December, 2022 when someone came through a Stop sign. We contacted Cooper Elliott, and were fortunate to work with Sean Alto and Kaela King. They came to our home several times to meet us and discuss the case, and got to know us personally as well as professionally. They really care about their clients! In addition, Michael Tonovitz stayed in contact with us to keep us informed on the progress of the case, which was resolved to our satisfaction.We highly recommend this law firm for personal injury!

Dads Specialty

14:06 15 Feb 24

Highly Recommend Jon with Cooper & Elliott firm. He was very responsive and went above and beyond to help with our situation. Can't thank him enough for everything he has done for us. He will be our "Guy" moving forward for any legal help!!

Ayesha Ansari

23:14 25 Jan 24

Excellent firm i am so glad I found cooper Elliot. My attorneys Jon and Adam helped me through the entire process

Katie Farina

15:39 21 Dec 23

I am so glad I found cooper Elliot. My attorneys Jon and Adam helped me through the entire process. After a traumatic experience in my life I was confused and in pain. They worked tirelessly to become familiar with all the details of my story and represented me in a way that made me more able to process and understand the trauma myself. This was huge for me, while there’s still healing to do, I can do that work now instead of staying in a purgatory of cognitive dissonance. They didn’t just win justice for me, they are a significant part of my healing journey. They were validating, non judgmental, honest, and knowledgeable.

Cindi Rourk

17:29 15 Dec 23

Excellent firm. The firm was referred to us for a commercial dispute. Bart Keyes is a master negotiator and kept us informed at all times. Highly recommend.

A D

16:10 08 Dec 23

Jonathan Bond handled a personal injury claim for me quickly with maximum results. He’s pleasant and enjoyable to work with, as well as compassionate. The firm handled all the legwork of getting medical records and copies of paperwork, which not all firms do. I would recommend Jonathan to anyone and would definitely go back to him if the need were to arise again.

Joe Miller

12:19 02 Sep 23

Very satisfied! We dealt with Bart Keyes who showed genuine interest in our situation. Bart was always very quick to respond when we had questions and kept us informed throughout the case. If you need legal representation for a commercial real estate dispute we highly recommend Bart and the Cooper Elliot firm!

Melanie Zook

08:42 23 Jul 23

I honestly struggle to find the words to describe how incredible this firm is, especially Jeffrey Kenny and Sean Alto. 7 years ago, my family started a journey through a nightmare. When the criminal justice system fell woefully short, Jeff agreed to take on our incredibly challenging and lengthy case, with no other reason than that it was the right thing to do, and he believed we deserved justice. There were so many times when I would have understood if they walked away, but they refused and vowed to get us the justice we deserved, and almost 7 years later, they have given my family just that. I will never, ever, forget what they have done for us. We were never just another case. They made us feel like we were their ONLY case! Thank you will never come close to the gratitude and respect I have for Jeff and Sean, as well as for Cooper Elliott. They will be superheroes in our home, forever!

CM Buzzard

15:30 21 Jul 23

Everyone from top to bottom in this company is always polite and ready to help. and no matter what is thrown their way, it's handled quickly and skillfully. Whoever represents you will show themselves to be a master in their craft. You can feel safe working with Cooper Elliott.

Matt Boaz

11:20 16 Jun 23

I would highly recommend Cooper Elliott to any of my friends and family! Chip Cooper was extremely helpful guiding me through a difficult process. Chip was patient with me and provided feedback during the process that kept me informed until the desired outcome was achieved. There were interactions with other staff of the firm (whose names I do not know) that were helpful as well, I was impressed with the entire team!

Jason Hick

06:30 17 May 23

Adam Richards is the best attorney I have ever met. He is responsive and very patient (I had a lot of questions) and he truly cares. He fought hard for me and he stands up to the bully. he is not afraid to take on anyone. Anytime I hear someone who has a legal issue I go out of my way to recommend Adam. He is unlike any attorney I have ever met. He is compassionate and he always answers his phone. There is no way I would have got the results I received with any other attorney. He was a bulldog in my case and really went to bat for me. Words cant express how grateful I am to him. His actions personally affected my life in a very positive way. He protected me in so many ways I couldn't begin to name them. It is a great feeling when you know your attorney outmatches the other party's attorney and it is obvious.