Seat belts are perhaps the most fundamental safety feature in modern automobiles. Wearing a properly working seat belt can significantly reduce the likelihood of suffering serious injury in a car accident. However, seat belt defects or malfunctions can erase those gains and actually may cause harm to a vehicle’s occupants in the event of a collision. A failure involving a safety belt can make even low-speed collisions particularly dangerous.
The financial strain created by medical bills and time away from work can place tremendous strain upon the injured party and his or her family. To learn more about your options if you have suffered due to a defective or malfunctioning seat belt, contact the St. Louis seat belt defect attorneys of the Finney Law Office at 314-646-0300 today. We can help you to pursue the financial compensation that you need.
Problems with Defective Seat Belts
Unlike airbags, seat belts do not need to deploy to work properly. Instead, these devices are meant to be worn at all times by a passenger or driver. When a vehicle gets in an accident, the strong forces of deceleration cause the belt to constrict. As a belt locks into place, a motorist is protected from being flung around their vehicle. However, the following defects can have a major impact on a motorist’s safety:
- Inability to secure a latch
- Inability to unlatch the belt in case of an emergency, such as a fire
- Too much restriction in the belt
- Lax or no tightening in the belt
- Belts that tear due to the use of poor fabric or design
A manufacturer installing seat belts needs to ensure that these essential safety devices are up to the task which they are assigned. Failure to do so can needlessly endanger the welfare of a driver and his or her passengers.
Contact Us – 314-646-0300
If you or someone you love has sustained an injury because of a seat belt defect, the St. Louis seat belt defect lawyers of the Finney Law Office may be able to help. For more information regarding your options, contact us today at 314-646-0300.