Defective Seatbelts Can Be Deadly

By Mitchell Proner

Published on November 30, 2010

There's no doubt about it: seatbelts can, and often do, save lives. This is why most states now require occupants of motor vehicles to wear safety belts whenever a vehicle is in motion. However, like any other product, seatbelts are occasionally prone to malfunction, whether due to design flaws or manufacturing defects. Consumers have every right to expect seat belts to perform properly in the event of an automobile accident; when they fail to do so and a serious injury or death results, victims and their families may have legal recourse under product liability law.

It should be noted that most seatbelts function precisely as they are supposed to. However, there are some defects that can affect the performance of these safety harnesses. Among the most common of these is the failure to latch properly. Some seatbelts will seem to be latched, remaining in place during normal motion and even perhaps making the "clicking" sound that indicates a proper latch. Unfortunately, most people aren't aware of this false latch until they have been involved in an accident in which the seatbelt abruptly becomes disengaged. In other cases, seatbelts are too slack or fail to lock in the event of a collision, thereby failing to prevent occupants from being jolted back and forth at the point of impact. In rare cases, the seemingly strong webbing of fabric that comprises the harness is too weak to withstand the pressure of a collision, ripping or tearing apart altogether and leaving the seatbelt wearer vulnerable to serious injury.

Because seatbelts are so essential to protecting lives, it is the responsibility of the designers and manufacturers of seatbelts to ensure that their products meet the highest standards of safety and strength. Each seatbelt should offer identical protection to every other seatbelt. If a seatbelt does not meet the proper standards and a serious injury or death occurs as a result, the designer and/or manufacturer may be held liable for the expenses and losses associated with the injury or death. Product liability lawsuits help not only to protect the rights of accident victims and their families, but also to ensure that similar sloppiness or negligence in the design and manufacturing process will not occur again.

If you or someone you love has been injured due to a defective auto product, please contact Mitchell Proner, product liability attorney in Manhattan, New York.

Comment on this article →