What are the most common types of defective seat belts?

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   John Bisnar on Dec 21, 2011 reply

   It goes without saying that car drivers and passengers should be able to trust their seat belts – and those who manufacture them .The reality, however, is that not all seat belts are designed and installed properly. The irony is that while the benefits of wearing seat belt are highly publicized, injuries and deaths caused by flawed restraint systems receive very little attention from the media. Meanwhile, car occupants who wear defective belts are under the false impression that they are adequately protected.

   The costs of improving known defects are relatively low – in some cases, only a few dollars per vehicle. Apparently, though, the auto industry has decided that it is somehow preferable to settle claims rather than make the necessary upgrades, at least in terms of the numbers on quarterly reports. As for the specific malfunctions that can occur in restraint systems, following is a basic overview of the kinds of cases to look for:

   · False latching. The seat belt looks and feels as if it is locked, but it is not fully engaged and therefore comes loose during an accident.

   · Inertial latching. The belt releases when the forces of the accident apply inertia to the opposite side of the buckle at the release button.

   · Inadvertent unlatching. A poorly designed release button on the buckle is inadvertently pressed, often with minimal force, by a body part of some other flailing object during a collision.

   · Lap belt only. During even a minor accident, and occupant may jackknife over the belt and suffer serious injuries.

   · Shoulder belt only. An occupant can submarine under the belt and sustain neck or other injuries.

   Auto defect cases are extremely complex. If you believe you may be the victim of an auto defect, we recommend speaking with a California auto defect lawyer as soon as possible.

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