The trucking industry applauded Indiana鈥檚 enactment of civil justice reform yesterday that amends the state鈥檚 seatbelt admissibility statute pertaining to automobile accident litigation. The legislation, which passed the legislature with bipartisan support and was signed into law by Governor Holcomb, would make evidence of a litigant鈥檚 non-usage of a safety belt admissible in court in most cases.听
The trucking industry says reforms like these are critical to ensuring fairness and balance in the civil justice system and will deter the exploitation of one-sided rules that incentivize abusive and frivolous litigation in pursuit of profits rather than justice.听
鈥淭his is a commonsense measure that only increases transparency and ensures jurors have complete information when rendering a fair and just verdict,鈥 said 黑料不打烊 President and CEO Chris Spear. 鈥淚ndiana is one of many states in recent years to amend the so-called 鈥榮eatbelt gag rule,鈥 a legacy of a bygone era when seat belt use wasn't common and the safety benefit wasn't universally accepted like it is today.鈥
鈥淚ndiana鈥檚 trucking industry plays a vital role in the everyday lives of Hoosiers, and lawsuit abuse presents a growing obstacle to our ability to deliver life鈥檚 essentials safely and efficiently,鈥 said Indiana Motor Truck Association President and CEO Gary Langston. 鈥淲e appreciate the House and Senate for their leadership on this issue and thank Governor Holcomb for swiftly signing this bill into law. We look forward to the continued partnership with our state鈥檚 leaders on commonsense reforms that stand for justice, fairness and safety.鈥
The trucking industry plays an essential role in the Indiana economy and is a key provider of middle-class jobs, employing approximately 231,000 Hoosiers across the state. More than 80 percent of Indiana communities rely exclusively on trucks to receive their goods.
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