A Seatbelt Malfunction can Cause Injury or Death

Ever since you were a child, your parents probably told you how important it was to always wear your seatbelt. There’s no denying that a seatbelt can save a life, but what happens when there’s a seatbelt malfunction and the belt doesn’t serve its purpose as it should?

HOLDING LIABLE PARTIES ACCOUNTABLE

As a driver, you rely on safety features in your cars, such as a seatbelt or an airbag, to help save your life — or at least to prevent you from getting as injured as you might without one. But, when a car manufacturer makes a seatbelt and it does not work properly, someone should be held responsible.

As a driver, you might not know who to go after. But a lawyer is well-versed in these types of injuries and can help you obtain the compensation you deserve in order to pay for injuries sustained due to a malfunctioning seatbelt.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF SEATBELT FAILURES

At first glance, a seatbelt might not seem like a complicated mechanism. But, there are many moving parts to a seatbelt, any of which can fail and cause a seatbelt malfunction. Here are a few:

• Unlatching or False Latching: Some people say that a seatbelt cannot become unlatched and pulled out of the buckle, while recent testimony and research has shown that this can indeed happen. It’s not common and is considered an anomaly, but it does happen.
• Torn Belt Webbing: Webbing on a seatbelt is meant to withstand the forces of an accident without ripping or tearing. But, if there is already ripping or tearing in the belt, this is considered damage to the webbing.
• Excessive Spooling: Spooling happens when an increased amount of the webbing is released during an accident. The seatbelt is supposed to keep the seated occupant safe and secure and only a certain amount of the belt should be slack. When too much is spooled out this can be considered a seatbelt malfunction.
• Software Defects: These days, many cars rely on computer software for things like safety features. But, when these systems have defects or malfunction, even something as simple as a seatbelt might not work properly!

A personal injury lawyer can help you determine what caused a seatbelt failure and get the compensation you deserve if the manufacturer was at fault. If you’ve been involved in a car accident or were injured due to a seatbelt malfunction and want to receive compensation for your injuries, contact Sloat Law for more information!