Seatbelt Injuries Lawsuit

A seatbelt is a part of the occupant restraint system within every car and truck on the road today. A defective seatbelt may cause serious injuries if the seatbelt system fails to play its role in protecting passengers during a car crash. While some injuries can occur when a seatbelt is functioning properly, defective seatbelts may cause or contribute to more severe injuries to those wearing them.

Normal seatbelt injuries from a crash may include some bruising or other minor injuries caused by the seatbelt tightening on the body upon impact. These relatively minor injuries are relatively common during more severe collisions. More severe damage can result from a defective seatbelt that fails to properly restrain and protect the passenger. A passenger may experience uncontrolled movement and may even come out of their seat as a result of a defective seatbelt.

A defective seatbelt system may contain a manufacturing flaw, a design defect or a failure to properly warn of certain known safety risks. These issues could result in seatbelts not latching fully, unlatching, releasing, having too much slack, not locking at the proper time or not locking at all. All of these factors can lead to severe injuries to passengers during a collision or a vehicle rollover.

There are many types of seatbelt injuries. However, some common but relatively minor injuries include:

• Abrasions
• Bruising

Other, more serious injuries may include:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
• Spinal cord injuries
• Collapsed lung
• Head and neck injuries
• Internal bleeding
• Internal organ damage
• Abdominal injuries
• Shoulder and chest injuries

Some of these severe seatbelt injuries may require physical therapy, surgeries or other medical interventions. All accident injuries should be assessed by a medical professional immediately. A Motley Rice attorney may be able to help you file a lawsuit if you suffered a serious injury because of a defective seatbelt.

Plaintiffs could hold various car manufacturers liable for defective seatbelt injuries. Manufacturers that may be held liable include:

• Ford Motor Company
• General Motors (owns Chevrolet, GMC, Buick and Cadillac)
• Hyundai Motor Company (owns Kia Corporation and Genesis Motor)
• Stellantis (owns Chrysler and Dodge)
• Toyota Motor Corporation (owns Lexus)

Liability may also extend beyond car manufacturers to parts suppliers.

Seatbelts are designed to save lives. But when a seatbelt system fails, it can cause life-threatening injuries to passengers.

A lawyer with experience handling product liability claims can help with a defective seatbelt injury lawsuit by:

• Gathering relevant evidence
• Identifying potentially liable parties
• Determining what damages to sue for
• Evaluating applicable statutes of limitations or statutes of repose
• Filing a lawsuit for damages, if necessary

Lawyers can assist individuals in figuring out which type of claim best fits their specific situation in order to secure compensation for the harms they experienced. The types of compensation available in these claims may include:

• Lost wages
• Medical expenses
• Pain and suffering
• Wrongful death

Other compensation may be available, depending on the unique facts of the case.

How long do I have to file a defective seatbelt lawsuit?

The amount of time you have to file a defective seatbelt lawsuit will depend on the statute of limitations in the state where the accident occurred and the type of claim you’re making. A lawyer can help you figure out the deadline for your claim and what you’ll need to properly submit your claim.

What is the most common seatbelt injury after a car accident?

Some of the most common seatbelt injuries are minor injuries such as bruising, scrapes and minor cuts. More severe seatbelt injuries may include internal bleeding, organ damage, brain damage and other serious injuries to the body.

What is seat belt syndrome?

Seat belt syndrome refers to injuries caused by excessive pressure of a seatbelt on a person’s body during a crash. People with seat belt syndrome may experience some minor injuries like bruising where the seatbelt locked or more severe injuries like injuries to internal organs, internal bleeding and fractures.

Victims of car crashes are often unaware that a defective vehicle or part may have contributed to or worsened their injuries. Our team knows that this is made even worse when a manufacturer knows of certain defects and attempts to hide them.

Motley Rice vehicle defect attorneys have had a critical role in some of the largest vehicle defect litigation and transportation accident lawsuits in the country, including:

• Defective Takata airbags
• Defective Fiat Chrysler gear shifts
• Defective ignition switches in GM vehicles

Read more on our vehicle defect litigation experience.