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Defective Seat Belts: A Faulty Product That Could Cost You Your Life

Many of us know that buckling up when we get behind the wheel could save your life – and that the increase in seat belt use in recent years has lead to a significant decrease in fatal traffic accidents across the country. However, not many people are aware that you can buckle up and still not be safe because of defective and dangerous seat belts.

Seat belts can be defective in a number of ways. Some safety belts may not be manufactured correctly while others may not be designed correctly. A common seat belt defect involves improperly working latches or unlatching seatbelts, while other seatbelt defects can involve other belt buckle problems that result in car accident victims being thrown from their car.

It is not know how many people are killed or seriously injured each year because of defective seatbelts and seatbelt buckles. However, a number of seatbelts recalls and defective seat belt lawsuits are reported each year:

• In 2009, a man filed a wrongful death lawsuit against General Motors after his wife was killed in a minivan accident after her seatbelt broke during a rollover.
• In April 2009, a mother sued General Motors after her daughter died in a car accident after the webbing of her seatbelt broke during the collision.
• In January 2009, a family sued TRW Safety Systems Inc. after a man was killed in his Pontiac Grand Prix. Evidence showed that his seat belt buckle failed during his car accident.
• In March 2010, a family was awarded $6.5 million in a defective seatbelt suit against Ford Motors. The teen in the case was paralyzed because the seat belt did not fit him properly.

If you or a loved one has been harmed because of a defective seat belt, it is imperative that you speak to a North Carolina car accident and defective product attorney today. Call now and schedule a free, private appointment.

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