Georgia’s Senate Passes Bill Requiring Seat Belts in Pickup Trucks | Atlanta Truck Accident Attorney

Date: March 26, 2010
Location: State of Georgia
Event: Auto Accident | Atlanta Personal Injury Attorney

The Georgia Senate finally approved legislation requiring the use of seat belts in pickup trucks. Recently, Georgia  required front seat passengers of all vehicles besides pickup trucks to buckle up. Georgia’s rural legislators have debated for years whether or not pickup trucks should be required to wear seat belts because wearing a seat belt is an inconvenience for farmers and farm workers who frequently get in and out of their pickup truck as they work on the fields.

The Georgia Senate approved the bill on a 45-2 vote. The bill exempts off road vehicles and pickup trucks used for farming.

According to the Georgia Senate, more than half of pickup truck fatal accidents resulted from passengers not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident. Passage of this bill is expected to save twenty five-million dollars in Medicaid expenses over a 10-year period. If the bill becomes law, Georgia will become eligible for federal highway funding assistance that was being withheld until this legislation passed.

Complications can arise in accident cases when it is determined than an injured victim was not wearing a seat belt. If you or a family member has been hurt and did not have a seat belt fastened, please feel free to call us for a free consultation at (770) 577-3020.