Seat belts play an integral role in reducing serious injuries and fatalities in car crashes. Unfortunately, sometimes seatbelts have manufacturing or design flaws that cause them to malfunction, leading to injury or death that could have been prevented. Seat belt defects are more common than you might think, and several car companies have issued recalls due to seat belt issues.
If you or a loved one was severely injured in a car crash due to a malfunctioning seat belt, call Atlanta car accident lawyer Humberto Izquierdo, Jr., PC at 770-888-8901 for your free consultation.
Types of Seat Belt Defects
Seat belts can malfunction in a number of different ways, including:
- False latching: This occurs when a seat belt appears to be properly latched, but in fact is not securely latched. When this happens, the seat belt will unlatch during an accident, rendering it useless.
- Retractor failure and spooling: Retractor failure occurs when the mechanism that causes the seatbelt to lock in place with sudden forward movement fails to work. Instead of securing the seat occupant, the seatbelt will instead spool out, leading to injury.
- Weak seat belt webbing: The webbing of a seat belt should be strong enough to hold a person in place without tearing. If a seat belt tears during an accident, it could mean that the belt was not designed to be strong enough.
- Poor design: If a seat belt has design flaws, it could become dangerous during an accident. If your seat belt failed to keep you properly safe during a car collision, you may have a seat belt design defect case.
Seat belt defects can lead to tragic consequences, and manufacturers should be held responsible for failing to maintain safety standards. If you’ve been a victim of a car accident where your seat belt failed to work properly, call us today to see if you have a seat belt defect case.
What to Do If You Were Injured by a Defective Seat Belt
If you suspect that a faulty seat belt contributed to your injuries in a car accident, you should:
- Seek medical help first
- Take photos of your car, seat belt, and the scene of the accident, if you can
- Call the Law Offices of Humberto Izquierdo, Jr., PC
We can review your case and help you get the compensation that you need and deserve. You need an experienced lawyer for a seat belt defect case, as the manufacturer will try their best to prove that your seat belt was not a significant factor in your injuries.
You may have a seat belt defect case if:
- You were wearing a seat belt but still ended up being thrown a significant distance from your seat
- Your seat belt was torn or ripped during the accident
- You were seriously injured in a relatively minor accident
Schedule Your Seat Belt Defect Consultation Today
If you were injured in a car accident and you think your seat belt played a major role, call the Law Offices of Humberto Izquierdo, Jr., PC today at 770-888-8901 to schedule your complimentary consultation. We serve clients in Marietta, Cumming, and nearby areas of Atlanta, GA.
