Ontario Accident Lawyer: Seat Belts Save Lives

Ottawa Personal InjuryLawyer– According to Ottawa Police Service, 24 people died in Ottawa between 2004 and 2008 because they were not wearing seatbelts.  An additional 346 were injured as a result of not wearing a seatbelt.  Fifty-seven of those who were hurt had life-threatening injuries.

In April 2010, Ottawa police will be monitoring traffic for seatbelt use.  Did you know that if you are injured in a motor vehicle accident in Ontario and are injured, your damages (compensation) may be reduced by up to 25% if you were not wearing your seatbelt.  The reduction is due to “contributory negligence” and depends on the facts of your case and the nature of your injuries.

Wouldn’t you agree that losing a percentage of your compensation for an accident that was not otherwise your fault due to the failure to wear a seatbelt adds insult to injury?

Do yourself a favour!  Buckle up.

About the Author: Brenda Hollingsworth

Brenda Hollingsworth co-founded Ottawa’s Auger Hollingsworth in 2005 with her husband Richard Auger. Together, their mission was to create a personal injury law firm for Eastern Ontario that is unrivalled in the province for customer service and legal expertise. Brenda was named an Ottawa Business Journal Forty Under 40 award recipient and took home the Women’s Business Network’s Businesswoman of the Year award in the Professional category. She was also recognized as one of Ottawa Life Magazine’s “Top 50 People in the Capital.” She is often quoted as an expert and has appeared in media outlets such as CTV, The Globe and Mail, National Post, Ottawa Citizen, Sun Media, CBC, Toronto Star, Montreal Gazette, CFRA and many legal publications.

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