New York City Defective Seatbelt Attorney

Did Your Vehicle’s Safety Devices Fail To Protect You In A Car Crash?

While millions of people are injured in car crashes in the United States every single year, the total number of people injured has been on the decline as safety has become a larger focus for law enforcement, manufacturers, and consumers. One of the most important safety features in any vehicle is its seatbelts. While they play a major role in keeping us safe in the event of a crash, defects in their design or manufacturing may cause them to fail when we need them most, leading to serious injuries and even death.

Give us a call at (212) 577-9325 to speak with one of our experienced New York product liability attorneys today.

If you or someone you love was seriously injured in a car accident because their seatbelt failed to function as intended, you may be able to file a lawsuit to secure financial compensation to cover any medical bills or damages you may have incurred. At The Perecman Firm, P.L.L.C., our NYC product liability attorneys have spent decades representing clients throughout New York, and have successfully recovered more than half a billion dollars in verdicts and settlements since we first opened our doors. Contact us today to discuss your case with a member of our firm and plan your next step.

The Dangers Of A Defective Seatbelt

According to federal statistics on car crashes, seatbelts save approximately 12,000 lives every single year. They primarily do this by preventing what is commonly referred to as the “second collision.”

There are two distinct collisions that threaten the safety of drivers and passengers during a car crash. The first is obvious – the impact between your vehicle and the object that made contact with your vehicle. The second collision, the one seatbelts are designed to prevent, is between the vehicle’s occupants and the vehicle itself. This can include flying through a window or the windshield or striking the roof, dashboard or steering wheel. Statistics show that this secondary collision is what causes the most harm in a crash.

When a seatbelt malfunctions or otherwise fails to work as intended, the occupants of the vehicle involved in the crash are at greater risk of suffering a secondary collision. In some cases, defective seatbelts can fail to fulfil their intended functions and cause serious injuries. In many older vehicles, the seatbelt for the center backseat only had one strap that would go across the passenger’s lap. During crashes, these seatbelts were known to cause the vertebrae in the passenger’s lower back to separate, causing the passenger to become paralyzed. This is commonly referred to as “seat belt syndrome.”

Some of the more common seatbelt defects include:

• Providing insufficient tension during a collision.
• Appearing to be latched when it is not.
• Unlatching when tugged on or pulled at.
• Faulty locking retractors

While these may seem like minor flaws, they can become major safety hazards, especially during a high-speed collision.

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