A seatbelt is a safety restraint device required on all cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs (sport utility vehicles). Most seatbelts operate safely and effectively, and an estimated 226,627 lives between 1975 and 2006 have been saved due to these safety devices, according to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). However, safety belts are not foolproof, and when they malfunction, serious injuries or even death may occur as a result. A seat belt malfunctions when it fails to safely and effectively restrain a vehicle occupant.
In a recent year, Yourlegalguide.com reported that 4,159 vehicle occupants were killed by safety belts in motor vehicle accidents and 989,000 were injured. Statistics from the NHTSA do not indicate how many defective seatbelts were involved in these tragic incidents, but there have been more than a thousand seatbelt recalls for safety issues since 1996. Seatbelt defects can be caused by a number of factors, including: manufacturing or assembly errors, design flaws, lack of warning labels, and insufficient directions. The following are common types of injuries caused by defective seat belts:
- Head injuries;
- Chest injuries;
- Abdominal injuries;
- Spinal injuries;
- Upper or lower extremity fractures; and
- Death.
Injuries caused by a seatbelt tend to affect the upper body, and when a seatbelt breaks during a motor vehicle crash, the injuries resemble those of an unrestrained vehicle occupant.
If you have been injured by a defective seatbelt, it is important to know you have legal rights and can pursue compensation from the negligent parties responsible. The seatbelt injury attorneys in Chicago with the Bradley Law Firm are committed to helping injury victims get the compensation they need to recover from a devastating accident. To see how our legal team can assist you, call (312) 252-1488 for a consultation.
