Seatbelt Defects
Seatbelts are credited with saving thousands of lives and are invaluable as a safety device when accidents occur. In fact, all major automakers stress in their marketing and vehicle manuals the importance of wearing seatbelts to prevent injuries. However, when these critical safety systems fail serious injuries and wrongful deaths can result.
Seatbelt failures can be the result of poor design or a manufacturing defect. Regardless of the cause, the most important evidence in a seatbelt defect case is the seatbelt system itself. By looking at the seatbelt system an expert can often determine whether the belt performed as intended or not. The clues are not always readily apparent, but if a vehicle occupant is injured or killed under suspicious circumstances, then precautions should be taken to evaluate if a seatbelt failure occurred.
The most important evidence in a seatbelt defect case is the seatbelt system itself.
As a general matter, seatbelts are intended to keep occupants restrained in their seats and to minimize undesired movement during an accident. If the seatbelt does not adequately contain an occupant then a claim may arise. For example, if an occupant is ejected despite being belted, then a seatbelt defect claim may well exist. Other examples include the unlatching of a belt during an accident, the failure of the seatbelt to lock up on impact, or the inability of the belt to adequately protect children.
As Seatbelt Defect attorneys we can help
If you suspect a seatbelt defect to be the cause of a serious injury or death, contact us today for a free evaluation of your case. As seatbelt defect lawyers we have extensive experience in litigating accidents involving seatbelt defect, and stand ready to bring our knowledge and expertise to bear for consumers injured by a seatbelt defect.
