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From: ecn-pc:ecn-ed:parent@pur-ee.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.auto,net.flame
Subject: Re: seatbelts make sense
Message-ID: <124@ecn-ed.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 13-Jul-83 21:06:41 EDT
Article-I.D.: ecn-ed.124
Posted: Wed Jul 13 21:06:41 1983
Date-Received: Fri, 8-Jul-83 16:32:50 EDT
References: aplvax.153
Lines: 30



    It seems that in Canada (well, British Columbia) you are legally
  required to wear seatbelts. If you are not you can be cited, and the
  police are able to stop you and check. They usually won't stop you to
  see if you are wearing your seatbelt, but are sure to get you for it
  if they stop you for something else (speeding, running a stop light,
  etc.). There is also some law that limits the amount of damages an
  insurance company is liable for if they can prove you were not wearing
  a seat belt. Some landmark case happen a few years ago in which some
  woman was hit by a truck (the truck driver was determined to be at fault)
  and was badly injuerred and was partially 
  paralized, but because she was not wearing her seatbelt at the time of
  the accident the lawsuit she filed against the trucker (for some vast
  amount of money) was thrown out of court, and the insurance company had
  to pay only what was stated in the trucker's policy.
    While it is unfortunate that the woman was badly injured, I would not
  want to be sued for more money than I'll ever make in my whole life just
  because someone did not feel their health was not worth the time it takes
  to fasten one's seatbelt.
    I was fortunate one rainy night when I lost control of my car on a
  curve at the top of a hill and ended up upside down in a ditch at the
  side of the road. Of course, I was wearing my seat belt and was still
  firmly in my seat when the car came to rest and was not harmed in the least
  my car, alas, was not so fortunate.

  
    ---- Stefan Sobol ----

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