Seat Belt Safety

Seat belts save lives. That is why they are installed in automobile vehicles. That is why wearing them has been written into the law, and that is why those who break that law face heavy fines. The risk of fatal injury can be reduced by as much as 45% if a lap-shoulder belt is used. Seat belts are credited with saving over 15,000 lives last year. When they function as they were designed to, seat belts save lives, but when defective seat belts fail, they could actually lead to serious injury or death.

Inertial Unlatching

Vehicle manufacturers make two major types of buckles: those that have a release button on the side and those that have one on the end. Both types can release or open during a collision, making the seat belt virtually useless.

Excessive Seat Belt Slack

Excessive slack of a shoulder or lap belt could fatally injure a passenger in a frontal collision. Slack can be caused by movement from a passenger before immediate impact, comfort clips installed on the tops of seat backs, and a device like a window shade feature that introduces slack for one’s comfort. Any amount of slack in a collision can be too much.

Lap-only Belts

Lap-only belts are typically found in the back seats of older car models. They are hazardous because they fail to restrain the torso of the passenger during a collision. This lack of restraint could lead to spinal damage, internal injuries, facial fractures, brain damage, and death.

If you have been injured in an automobile accident because of a faulty seat belt, contact the Appleton car accident attorneys of Habush, Habush & Rottier, S.C. at 800.472.9334 to discuss your case and further legal options.