A three-car accident in Goodyear left ten people injured. The crash occurred late in the hours of Wednesday evening at the intersection of Estrella and Yuma roads. According to witnesses, a car crossing Estrella Road was struck by a truck travelling on Yuma road. It is alleged that the truck failed to stop at a red light. One the vehicles in the initial crash then struck another vehicle that was approaching the intersection.
In all, four passengers were immediately taken to the hospital to have serious injuries treated. They ostensibly included three passengers who were ejected from their vehicle because they were not wearing seatbelts. Two others were taken to the hospital to deal with minor injuries.
The accident is still under investigation, and authorities at this point are unsure if alcohol or any other form of impairment was involved. Nevertheless, these factors could prove important in determining who is at fault for the accident, as well as the extent of the injuries. These are important distinctions given that Arizona follows the doctrine of comparative negligence, where an injured person’s damages are allocated in direct proportion to their respective fault.
Essentially, if a person was seriously injured in the crash because he or she was not wearing a seatbelt, this could be considered in assessing liability. As such, if the injured person is found to be 30 percent liable for their injuries, their recovery could be reduced by that amount.
This also means that in pursuing compensation for one’s injuries arising from a crash, it is prudent to discuss the situation with an experienced personal injury attorney.
Source: azcentral.com “Goodyear car accident victims not wearing seatbelts,” Connor Wince, May 29, 2014