NFIB State Director Dawn Starns said today that Louisiana’s small-business owners are urging the Senate Judiciary “A” Committee to vote “yes” on legislation to allow judges to consider whether someone involved in a traffic accident was wearing a seatbelt.
“Louisiana’s car insurance rates are the second highest in the country,” Starns said.
“Currently, Louisiana has a gag rule relative to submitting evidence in civil trials relative to seat belt usage. “Senate Bill 382 by Sen. Sharon Hewitt and House Bill 700 by Rep. Jack McFarland would allow a judge to decide if evidence of seat belt usage should be introduced relative to injuries from motor vehicle accidents. Statistically, people who don’t wear seat belts suffer more severe injuries than those who do.
“This legislation would help reduce insurance costs for small-business owners and reduce frivolous lawsuits stemming from injuries that could have been reduced or avoided altogether if the person had been wearing a seatbelt.”
NFIB is Louisiana’s leading small-business association. To learn more about NFIB in Louisiana, visit www.NFIB.com/LA and follow @NFIB_LA on Twitter.
