As we know, automobile accidents in the San Fernando Valley can lead to serious injuries and sometimes death. When we combine a several thousand pound vehicle with defective products, the injuries can be even more catastrophic. If you or a loved one was injured in a car accident and you believe the accident was caused by a defective product or the injuries were more severe due to the defective product, contact an experienced auto accident lawyer immediately.
Automotive recalls are quite common these days. It is important to pay attention to these recalls in case the car you are driving has been recalled for some reason; including seat belt issues, defective airbags, or defective brakes. Recently, Mitsubishi Motors North America recalled over 40,000 Outlander SUVs to fix a problem with the front passenger seat belt lap fastener.
In the affected vehicles, the front passenger seat belt lap end attachment fastener may not be torqued to specification, meaning that over time, the fastener may loosen and eventually become incapable of withstanding the load forces associated with a car crash. The result? The vehicle occupant (whether a driver or passenger) may receive insufficient restraint and be at risk of serious injury in the event of a crash.
Seat belt Defects are Common
Again, seat belt defects are rather common. When a car accident occurs and a properly worn seat belt does not protect the occupants, the accident victims can be seriously injuried. There are many ways in which seat restraint systems can fail and not properly protect the victims. These can include false latching and unlatching, torn or ripped webbing, retractor failure, and other issues.
Seat belt performance and potential effectiveness is highly dependent upon the facts of an individual accident. While it is difficult to generalize, certain facts might indicate a seat belt problem. Discuss the specific facts of your potential case with an experienced auto accident lawyer. To be certain, evidence that a seat belt failed because of design or manufacturing defects is often subtle and can be difficult to detect. If a belt failure is suspected, the most important thing to do is preserve the vehicle and the seat belt system since it is extremely difficult to prove that a seat belt failed without the physical evidence.
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a car accident that you believe was the result of a defective seat belt or a defective auto part, please contact experienced personal injury attorney Barry P. Goldberg today.
