A seat belt is one of the key safety features of automobiles. Millions of individuals are saved each year from terrible injuries and even death thanks to the presence of seat belts. However, there are times when these seat belts are not effective and have malfunctions or defects that are unknown the riders or distributors. A manufacturing defect can create a huge problem for many drivers. In the event that you were in an accident and your seat belt broke or failed to work properly, you could take legal action against the automobile manufacturer or company. Our team of seat belt accident attorneys at the Downtown LA Law Group has been handling such types of cases for years, and we know the best methods for success. If you want to know how to file a case for injuries after your seat belt failed to work, you can reach out to our firm for more assistance.

Effects Of Seat Belt Defects

Given how dangerous car accidents are, it is necessary that seat belts are as effective and safe as possible. There are many different ways that you can be involved in car crashes, such as head-on collisions, rear-end crashes, T-Bone accidents, side swipes, and more. The seat belt will keep you in place and prevent your neck from being drastically injured and will not let you get ejected out of the vehicle. There are regular injuries that can happen with seat belts though, such as burns from the fabric, lacerations, broken bones, and internal damages. The tightness of the belt paired with a high impact accident can contribute to your harm.

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However, there are still ways in which seat belts can be found defective, which can greatly endanger you or your passengers. A few examples include:

• Problems with latches and buckles that prevent the belts from clicking into place, locking, or staying still without dislodging in the event of an impact and pull
• Shoddy materials for the belt, such as easily torn fabric, belts that rip, and more
• Broken belts and belt parts, such as screws that don’t hold, locking mechanisms with broken springs, and more
• Spooling or slack belts, which may not be held in place and can create too much material that will not hold you in place
• Electronic failure, as some seat belts are controlled by computers or electronics; a defect with the program or battery can cause the seat belt to stop working

If a seat belt malfunctions while you’re on a car ride or while in any kind of vehicle, you risk suffering intense damages. We have seen individuals get in the following ways due to many reasons. A few of the damages we have witnessed include:

• Lacerations
• Cuts and abrasions
• Burns
• Internal organ damage
• Crushing injuries
• Whiplash
• Fractures
• Brain damage
• Concussions
• Neck and spinal cord injuries

A seat belt is not supposed to cause you additional harm or even greater harm than the accident. If you have suffered such injuries due to a defective seat belt, contact our lawyers in Los Angeles for more assistance.

– Toyota FJ Cruiser Recall – Seat Belt Failure Defect

How To File A Claim For Injuries After A Seat Belt Failed To Work

If you wish to file a lawsuit against a car company because a seat belt broke, you must show that there was an issue with the belt that you did not cause. A product liability claim can be filed against the manufacturer in addition to a lawsuit against the responsible driver in an accident. To do this, you must prove that there was a design error with the seat belt, a manufacturing defect that caused the seat belt to be broken or malfunction in some way, or that there were no warnings or hazard listings on the belt. If a large number of belts were tested and they turned out to have the same or similar issues, there could be a product recall from the company. However, there may not be any testing done in the aftermath of an incident. You may have an isolated case wherein your particular belt was poorly designed or had troubles. If so, you should file a defective seat belt lawsuit against the company. You can join a class action lawsuit if other individuals also suffered injuries from broken seat belts.

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If you wish to file a claim, you should take these steps: Get medical attention at once so you can be treated for your injuries, even if you do not feel like you were hurt. The paramedics can determine if there are any damages that you missed, especially if you were hopped up on adrenaline and didn’t notice the pain. It is also beneficial for your claim to not have a large gap between the date of the injury and the ensuing medical treatment. The longer you wait, the more likely it is that the insurance agent will throw your claim out or try to state that you were clearly hurt in another incident. Take pictures of your injuries, the damage to your car, the environment, and more.

– Injured in an Accident While Not Wearing Seat Belt

Do not return the car, bring it to the mechanic for repairs, or ask for a refund from the automobile company. You should take pictures of the belt and ensure that it is still in the car to show how it is defective or how it failed to work. If you get the seat belt fixed or if you replace it, you will lose your primary piece of evidence. Other evidence can be gathered as well. If you had passengers with you, they could provide their statements, while a mechanic could provide his input on the malfunction. You could have dash cam footage, surveillance video, and more if it helps your claim. Once you have gathered your evidence together, you should contact one of our seat belt defect attorneys so we can take the next step with you. We will write a demand letter dictating the occurrence and what we wish to receive as compensation, and we will send the evidence package and the letter to the insurance agency. It is very likely that the insurance agent will not give in immediately and will try to offer you a small amount of money, if anything at all, to walk away. We will work to negotiate a fair deal from the agent and won’t give up until we are satisfied. We always recommend pursuing legal assistance because of how difficult it can be to handle insurance agents, especially those of large corporations. You may not have any legal knowledge or negotiating experience, and the tactics the agent uses can be unfamiliar to you. You may also be severely injured and not well enough to go through such a legal battle. The stress of the lawsuit and arguments could heighten your stress levels and lengthen the time you spend recovering. Contact our seat belt failure attorneys for the best representation available.

– What is the value of my seat belt defect lawsuit?

Deadline to File a Lawsuit

In California, you have 2 years from the date of the injury to file a product liability lawsuit against the company responsible for providing you with a defective item. If you do not file a claim within this period of time, you will be barred from receiving compensation in the future. The statute of limitations prevents claims from dragging too long before being filed and it allows both parties ample time to prepare evidence. There are a few ways in which the 2-year deadline can be extended, though. The most common concerns those who were younger than 18 years old. Minors cannot sue, and their statutes would not begin until they turn legal age. Additionally, you may have been injured to such an extent that you could not physically or mentally file a claim. This would allow your statute to be put on hold until you return to functioning health. To ensure that you file your claim on time, call our law offices for more assistance. We will not miss a single deadline with regards to your case.

Restitution for Your Claim

If you have been injured because of a defective seat belt, you can receive ample compensation to cover the damages. The car company can pay for your bills and expenses stemming from the incident if you were hurt due to their error. We will strive to bring you every cent you need, including coverage for the following:

• Medical bills from the past and future for any treatments and medication you receive
• Property damage to fix or repair your items and personal belongings
• Missed income from absent days at work from the past and future
• Pain and suffering for mental anguish, PTSD, fear, anxiety, and psychological trauma
• Wrongful death damages in the event a loved one or family member passed away in the crash, which can include coverage for funeral and burial fees, loss of inheritance and savings, loss of consortium and relations, pre-death medical bills and pain and suffering, and more

You can rest assured that we will not stop pursuing a worthwhile settlement for you. We believe that the company should pay off whatever expenses are accrued because of their negligent product design. For the best help available, contact our Los Angeles defective seat belt attorneys.

The Best Firm for Your lawsuit

Our law firm, the Downtown LA Law Group, has handled numerous defective seat belt lawsuits throughout the years, and we have recovered millions of dollars for our clients overall. We know how to win your case with the most successful methods, and if we are not making any headway with the insurance agency, we will take your claim to court. We will gladly defend your rights in front of a judge and jury. Our lawyers are aggressive and relentless, but when it comes to you, we are empathetic and attentive. To set up a free legal consultation, call our law offices today. We are available around the clock and can tell you what we believe your case is worth. You can ask us questions about your claim and how to file a defective seat belt lawsuit. If you want to hire us to litigate your claim, we will give you our zero fee guarantee. This states that you won’t pay any personal fees for our services. We will only get paid if we win and the insurance company will provide the legal fees as we take a portion of the settlement. If we lose, we take no money whatsoever. To sue the automobile company if your seat belt failed to work properly, call (888) 649-7166 to speak with a car accident attorneys at the Downtown LA Law Group.