Potential Seat Belt Defects - Part 1

Seatbelts can malfunction in a variety of ways. When they do malfunction, potentially deadly injuries can result. Some of the common defects include inertial unlatching, false latching, torn or ripped webbing, and retractor failure.

Inertial unlatching occurs when a seatbelt becomes unlatched during a collision. This unlatching allows the latch plate to pull out of the buckle. The automobile industry denies that this can happen but recent tests show how the button can become depressed during an accident which releases the latch plate. Millions of vehicles across the country are susceptible to the problem.

False latching is another possible defect. In involves a seatbelt that feels, looks, and sounds latched but, in actuality, is not fully engaged. When this occurs, a minimal amount of force will cause a falsely latched buckle to release completely from the latch plate. Once this happens, the passenger may as well have not worn their seatbelt at all because they are now free to move about the interior of the vehicle as if there was never a seatbelt in place.

These first two defects are commonly overlooked in police reports. This is because when the police arrive at an accident, the seatbelts are not actually latched. When this claim is made, it is generally made by a survivor that knows he or she put their seatbelt on when they started the car.

Another potential defect involves torn or ripped webbing. This might occur because of a defect or manufacturing flaw in the webbing itself. Seatbelts are designed to withstand the forces of the majority of survivable collisions. This can also be a sign of other vehicle defects, such as one in a seat.

When an accident occurs, the seat belt retractor locks the seatbelt which then holds the occupant in place. When the retractor doesn’t lock, excess belt is released and results in slack. This too allows the occupant to move around the interior of the car and make contact with various portions of the interior.

If your seatbelt did not function properly in a recent car accident, contact the Green Bay personal injury lawyers of Habush, Habush, & Rottier, S.C. at 1-800-757-8644 to discuss your case and to schedule an initial consultation.