According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 2.9 million people suffered seat belt injuries, and 43,000 people died as a result of seat belt injuries in 2002.  Due to the inadequacy of many seat belt systems, a growing number of products liability and negligence suits have been filed for personal injury and wrongful death.

            In the event of a motor vehicle collision, a restraint system should help to keep the occupant in the vehicle, dissipate energy, and prevent second interior occupant collisions.  Several defects have been exposed in the design, manufacture, assembly, installation, and warnings of the restraint systems.  However, the industry has yet to correct these problems.

            There are four main components of a seat belt restraint system.  These include: (1) the webbing (2) the buckle (3) the retractor; and (4) the anchorage.  If any of these mechanisms fail, the occupant may suffer serious injury or death.  In order to recover for any damages, the plaintiff must prove that the system was defective when it was in the possession, control, or responsibility of the defendant.  The plaintiff must also prove that the defect caused the injury.

            If you believe you may have suffered from a potential seat belt injury, please contact the attorneys at Cappolino Dodd Krebs LLP at 1-800-460-0606.  Our attorneys have years of experience in motor vehicle and products liability cases, and look forward to helping you.

This entry was posted on Friday, August 1st, 2008 at 2:41 pm and is filed under Motor Vehicle Accidents, Seat Belts, Truck Accidents. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.