Spinal Cord Injury Caused by Seatbelt Failure

Make no mistake: Seatbelts have saved countless thousands of lives since their use became widespread in the 1960's. Still, these devices involve moving parts that must be made according to federal and industry safety standards to be effective. In the U.S., seatbelt standards are determined by the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration.

When seatbelts don't work properly, individuals can suffer grave harm including spinal cord injuries. Seatbelt failures happen during vehicle rollovers or car collisions, causing people to be thrust onto car interiors or even ejected out of cars. Some seatbelts turn out to be defective by design, such as lap-only belts that do not restrain the upper body.

Some of the most common seatbelt defects include:

• Excessive seatbelt slack during collisions, through defects such as a broken seatbelt retractor.
• False latching, in which a seatbelt does not truly become latched even after it was engaged. Evidence has shown this is a real phenomenon, leaving accident victims confused to hear police reports that they were not buckled in.
• Inertial unlatching, in which seatbelts can become undone by sheer force.

No seatbelt could ever prevent all auto injuries. But by following existing standards, car manufacturers can prevent thousands of injuries and deaths. Only a few inches of slack in a poorly made seatbelt can be the difference between minor injuries and a spinal cord injury. And when seatbelts unlatch mid-accident, people may impact vehicle dashboards or be thrown out of vehicles altogether.

Consider Your Options

Remember that you are not alone. While the physical and financial toll may be heavy, you do have recourse available. You should not suffer because of the neglect of others, even if it involves large corporations.

The experienced lawyers at the Ammons Law firm have helped many people who have been victim to seatbelt failure. They have received debilitating spinal cord injuries through no fault of their own. We fight hard to make sure that they receive settlements to help pay for wage loss and medical treatment.

Call (866) 523-1606 today. Our knowledgeable lawyers will answer all of your questions during your initial consultation. Should you need specialized treatment, we can connect you with prominent physicians and rehabilitation centers in your area.