Northern California Seat Belt Injury Lawyers
Northern California Seat Belt Failure
Seat belt failure can cause severe injury, such as head injuries, spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, paralysis, concussion, bone fracture injuries, amputation injuries, blunt trauma injuries and death. Auto manufacturers have a duty to design, produce and install crashworthy seat belts, but based on the amount of seat belt recalls in recent years, it appears auto manufacturers are putting profits above safety. Between January 2000 and November 2006, the Center for Auto Safety reports more than 180 seat belts were recalled. These recalls affected both passenger and commercial vehicles.
The northern California defective product attorneys at Estey Bomberger have years of experience practicing personal injury law and can help victims and victims’ families recover compensation for their injuries or loss. A devastating injury or loss of a loved one can place undue stress and strain on injured victims or surviving family members. Our law firm’s mission is to see our clients freed of the stresses that prevent them from moving forward. Let one of our northern California personal injury attorneys help you recover money for hospital stays, medical expenses, funeral costs, lost wages, lost benefits, loss of companionship, loss of support, and pain and suffering.
Lap Belt Only Injuries
Lap belts are typically located in the center of rear seating where, until recently, the use of a shoulder harness was not common. The use of a lap belt without a shoulder strap can result in serious injury for a passenger in an auto accident. The force of an impact can thrust an occupant’s body over the seat belt resulting in severe lacerations and internal injuries. With the use of a lap belt only, a passenger’s body can be propelled forward into a windshield or seat back, causing severe head injuries or spinal cord injuries.
Types of Seat Belt Failure
Damaged webbing
Seat belts are made of a lightweight, yet durable fabric called webbing. Webbing is designed to withstand great force, but if damaged or torn, may result in the wearer being ejected from a vehicle.
Flawed seat belt design
Most shoulder straps are anchored to a vehicle in a fixed position and cannot be moved to accommodate an individual of smaller stature. Because of this design flaw, the shoulder strap can ride too high on a smaller adult and cause severe neck or head injuries in a collision.
Faulty seat belt latches
Even though a seat belt may have been fastened correctly, a defect in the latching mechanism can cause a seat belt to release itself in an accident. If a seat belt unbuckles during a crash, passengers can be ejected from a vehicle or thrown into a windshield or dashboard.
Defective seat belt retractor
In a collision, the seat belt retractor is designed to take in any slack a seat belt may have in order to keep the wearer in place. A defective or malfunctioning retractor may not pick up the extra slack and cause the wearer to submerge under the seat belt, which can result in serious neck or head injuries. Smaller adults and children can be thrown from a vehicle if a seat belt retractor fails to work properly.
Protecting Your Legal Rights
We have been protecting injured victims legal rights for several decades in northern California and throughout the state. If you have been denied payment of an insurance claim or have been delayed payment of a claim, you need our help. We will not back down to insurance companies who may try to deny our clients’ right to maximum compensation for their damages. Call our firm toll-free at (800) 890-6722. One of our northern California defective auto product lawyers will be ready to inform you of your rights. We offer free consultations and work on a contingency fee basis, meaning no fee until we win.