Most of the time, everybody riding in a vehicle has a seat to themselves. Many people specifically purchase larger vehicles because they have children or need to regularly transport coworkers or employees.
That being said, sometimes there are a number of people who require transportation and a vehicle with limited seating. Pickup trucks are popular among blue-collar workers, but they don’t offer many seats. People may need to choose between getting creative with seating arrangements, excluding some people or making multiple trips.
If there is a small group that needs to travel together, is it legal for some of them to ride in the bed of a pickup truck instead of in the cab?
Some people can legally ride in a truck bed
Most people assume that it is never legal to ride in the bed of the truck. While it may not be particularly safe to do so, it is not an illegal choice. Safety restraint statutes mandate the use of seat belts when in the front row of seats in a vehicle. They also require that those under the age of 16 wear safety restraints every time they ride in a vehicle.
Provided that the passengers are old enough to drive, they can choose to ride in the bed of the truck without the driver being at risk of a citation. However, they may be at risk of serious injury in the event of a collision.
People often need to weigh their options carefully, as what is legal is not necessarily the safest or smartest choice. Those injured in a crash because they were in the bed of a truck may still be able to recover some of their losses through insurance claims or personal injury lawsuits.
The driver who allowed them to travel in the bed of the truck may not necessarily be liable. The other driver may have caused the crash, which may make them the party that must provide financial compensation to the people hurt.
Determining who is at fault for a motor vehicle collision is the first step toward obtaining compensation. Those in the bed of a truck may need to hold the driver of the truck accountable or may have grounds to take action against another motorist involved in the collision.