After a car crash, many injured drivers and passengers want to know if the insurance company on the other side can use the fact that they weren’t wearing a seatbelt against them.

The short answer is not entirely. But it can reduce your compensation.

Iowa Law on Seatbelts and Personal Injury Claims

Iowa law requires most drivers and passengers to wear seatbelts. Failing to wear a seatbelt doesn’t cause car accidents, but it may affect the extent of injury. That’s where Iowa law may limit damages in cases where an injured driver or passenger wasn’t wearing a seatbelt when they got injured.

Under Iowa law, an insurance company can argue for a reduction of up to 25% of your damages if the lack of a seatbelt made your injuries worse than they otherwise would have been. They have to prove that not wearing a seatbelt contributed to the severity of the injuries, not that you just weren’t wearing one.

Example:

If your total damages are $100,000, that amount can be reduced by up to $25,000 – but only if the failure to wear a seatbelt actually caused greater injury.

If the crash was so severe that injuries would have occurred regardless, there may be no reduction at all.

It’s Important to Wear a Seatbelt

But if you’ve been injured in a crash when you weren’t wearing one, don’t assume you’ve lost your right to compensation. Speak with a personal injury attorney at LLDDC Law to understand how the law applies to your case.

We’ll help you navigate Iowa’s seatbelt laws and fight for the compensation you deserve.

Contact LLDDC Law for a free consultation.