Research has shown that properly secured three-point seat belts reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat vehicle occupants by up to 60 percent depending on the type of vehicle. Similarly, seat belts can reduce the risk of moderate to critical injury by up to 65 percent. Perhaps not surprisingly given their benefits and laws requiring seat belt use, a 2008 study found that 83 percent of motorists nationwide do in fact wear their seat belts; that number climbs to 90 percent for individuals traveling on expressways. While their benefits are obvious, seat belts can still pose risks to drivers and passengers due to design or manufacturing defects or installation errors.

There are many types of seat belt defects and problems that can cause injuries and contribute to the severity of other injuries in the event of a car accident. Among these is unintentional release during an accident due to poorly placed release buttons. Millions of cars are equipped with seat belts that have release buttons on the front face of the buckle. During a crash or rollover, the release button could come into contact with another part of the vehicle or even an occupant, thereby releasing the seat belt and leaving the wearer vulnerable to serious injury or death. In some cases, this problem is compounded by a front release button that is raised above the surface of the rest of the buckle, making the seat belt even more likely to accidentally release. Poorly manufactured seat belt housings and buttons can also break or crack, leading to failure to latch properly, unintentional unlatching, or the inability to latch the seat belt at all. In addition, seat belts sometimes fail to lock during car accidents, or become torn or otherwise damaged by other vehicle components. Finally, excessive seat belt slack, lap only belts, door-mounted seat belts and shoulder-only belts can also put drivers and passengers at risk of severe injury and death.  Types of seat belt injuries include skin abrasions (30 percent of the time these are accompanied by internal injury); injuries to the carotid artery, throat, and cervical spine; chest, rib and shoulder fractures; abdominal damage; spinal trauma; and injuries to internal organs.

If you or a loved one has suffered a seat belt injury during a motor vehicle accident, it is crucial that you contact an experienced attorney immediately. Our dedicated injury lawyers can help you obtain all of the compensation to which you may be entitled. This might include money for pain and suffering, emotional distress, medical bills and lost wages or other financial damages. Only an accident lawyer who has resolved many seat belt injury matters can decide the best strategy for handling your unique case.

At Feldman Shepherd, we are committed to obtaining the best possible recovery for our clients throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey as expeditiously as possible. We are here to serve you with hard work, attention to detail and a caring approach tailored to your individual needs. If we may be of assistance to you, please do not hesitate to contact us today.