Types of Seatbelt Defects

Vehicle occupants rely on the durability of seat belts to stay intact in an accident. Hidden and undetected design failures and defective buckles on a seat belt create a false sense of security. A lack of restraint can have catastrophic results. At Leger Ketchum & Cohoon, PLLC, we have experience in complex defective seat belt claims that involve:

• Inertial Unlatching: Inertial unlatching is one of the most catastrophic types of seatbelt failures, resulting in severe injuries and even death in thousands of crashes. A defective buckle may become unlatched during an accident, causing the driver or passenger to be ejected from the vehicle. Inertial unlatching is likely due to a design or manufacturing defect involved with the production of the vehicle.
• False Latching: False latching occurs when a defective seatbelt looks, feels, and sounds like it has been secured properly, but is not. This can be just as dangerous as inertial unlatching because even a small amount of force is enough to release a latch plate.
• Retractor Failure and Spooling: A seatbelt retractor is where the belt feeds from and is responsible for locking during sudden stops. Instead of securing the passenger, the seatbelt will spool out and fit too loosely. This can cause the passenger to be thrown in a high impact car accident.
• Defective or Weak Webbing: Seatbelt webbing should be strong enough to hold a person in place without tearing. However, defective webbing can rip apart during an accident. If this happens, it could be an indication of poor design and lack of proper testing.

Contact Our Truck Accident Attorneys Serving Across Texas and Nationwide

If you or a loved one has been injured by a seat belt defect, contact us by filling out our online contact form or call us at 832.764.7200. Seat belt defect claims are complex and proving the defect can be extremely challenging. Our seat belt defect attorneys have years of experience with comprehensive legal knowledge. At Leger Ketchum & Cohoon, PLLC, our defective products team can investigate your case to determine the best possible outcome for your claim.