What Should I Do if a Faulty Seatbelt Made My Injuries Worse?

You were wearing your seat belt like you were supposed to. But after the crash, something didn’t feel right. The belt locked too tight, or didn’t hold you at all. Now you’re left with bruises, chest pain, or even spinal damage. If you suffered injuries worse than you should have because of a defective seat belt, you may have legal options.

Faulty Seat Belts Can Cause More Harm Than Good

Seat belts are designed to protect vehicle occupants. But when a seat belt fails, snapping loose, locking improperly, or tearing on impact, it can cause serious injuries instead of preventing them. These failures are more common than many people think, and they can result in devastating outcomes during a car accident.

In a functioning system, safety belts should properly restrain the person wearing them across the shoulder and lap. But if the latch doesn’t hold or the seat belt retracts with too much force, the impact can drive the body into the steering wheel or dashboard. Common seat belt injuries include internal bleeding, spinal cord injuries, abdominal injuries, and broken ribs. In severe cases, a faulty seatbelt can contribute to a wrongful death.

What Causes Seatbelt Failures in Car Accidents

Seatbelt defects come in many forms. Some involve poor design, like shoulder straps that pull unevenly or latches that don’t click securely. Others involve improper installation or manufacturing flaws, where the seat belt fails completely under the pressure of a collision. In some cases, even a seatbelt that appears to be working normally can still be part of a larger seat belt defect.

Vehicle occupants in crashes involving low to moderate speeds have suffered severe injuries due to a defective seat belt. Lap belts that don’t properly hold the torso, retractors that fail to tighten, or safety belts that detach under force, all can leave car accident victims worse off than if no restraint had been used at all.

When a seatbelt fails, it is not always immediately obvious. The signs often appear in the nature of the injuries and how the impact occurred. That’s why documenting the crash and getting medical attention right away is critical.

What to Do After a Defective Seatbelt Injury

If you believe a defective seatbelt made your injuries worse, seek medical attention first. Document every symptom, even if it seems minor at the time. Medical records will be important in proving how your injuries relate to the seatbelt failure.

Next, preserve the vehicle. Don’t repair or scrap it before speaking to a personal injury lawyer. The seatbelt itself is evidence. A legal team can arrange to have it inspected by experts who understand seatbelt defects and seatbelt failures.

You should also report the issue to your insurance company, but be careful not to assume fault or make statements about the seat belt that haven’t been investigated. If you’ve already started an insurance claim, let your attorney handle communications to avoid damaging your case.

Who Can Be Held Liable for a Faulty Seatbelt

Responsibility for a seat belt injury may fall on several parties. In some cases, the vehicle manufacturer may be held liable if the seatbelt failure was part of a design flaw or manufacturing defect. In others, the seat belt maker, or even the installer, may be the one at fault.

You may be eligible to file a product liability claim, especially if the seat belt defect was already known to the manufacturer or part of a safety recall. These claims can cover medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and the cost of ongoing treatment.

If you were already injured in a car crash, but the seatbelt made your injuries worse, you may have multiple claims: one against the at fault driver and another against the responsible parties involved in the seatbelt’s failure.

Talk to Greenstein & Pittari, LLP About Seatbelt Defect Injuries

Defective seat belts cause serious harm, even to responsible drivers who were wearing a seat belt correctly. At Greenstein & Pittari, LLP, we help injured vehicle occupants hold manufacturers and other at fault parties accountable when seatbelt defects lead to preventable pain. If a faulty seatbelt made your injuries worse in a car accident, contact our legal team for a free consultation. You may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and long-term recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions About Defective Seatbelt Injuries

How do I know if my seatbelt failed during the accident?

Seat belt failure isn’t always obvious at first. Signs include unusual bruising patterns, your body hitting parts of the car despite wearing the belt, or the belt appearing torn, loose, or detached after the crash.

Can I sue the car manufacturer for a defective seat belt?

Yes. If the seat belt defect was caused by a manufacturing or design flaw, the vehicle manufacturer or seat belt maker may be held liable.

What injuries are caused by seatbelt defects?

Common injuries include spinal cord injuries, internal injuries, broken ribs, and neck injuries. In some cases, seatbelt injuries are more severe than those caused by the crash itself.

Will my insurance cover a seatbelt failure?

Your insurance may help with medical bills, but it won’t cover product liability. That’s why many victims file personal injury lawsuits to recover full compensation.

How long do I have to file a claim for a defective seat belt?

In New York, you generally have three years from the date of the accident. However, it’s important to act quickly to preserve the seatbelt as evidence.