Chicago Seatbelt Injury Lawyers
Studies show that wearing seatbelts greatly decreases a motorist’s chance of serious injuries and fatalities. Fully functioning safety belts hold occupants securely inside the vehicle and minimize the injuries suffered. But when seatbelts do not work the way they are supposed to or are defective, then they can cause a lot of damage. If you have been injured in an Illinois car accident as a result of seat restraint system failure, you could be eligible to seek compensation for your injuries and losses.
Illinois Seatbelt Law
Illinois enacted primary safety belt laws in 2003 to lessen traffic fatalities. Drivers and front seat passengers are now legally required to wear a properly adjusted and fastened seatbelt. All passengers 18 years old and younger must wear a seatbelt as well. Drivers are responsible for all children between the ages of 8 and 16 being properly secured by a seatbelt or child restraint system.
Seatbelt Defects and Failures
There are several types of injuries commonly associated with faulty of defective seat belts that fail during auto accidents including traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injuries, paraplegia, quadriplegia, contusions and broken bones. The most common types of seat belt defects include:
- Ripped and Torn Webbing: When a careful inspection following an accident finds a torn or ripped seatbelt, it may be proof of a defect seatbelt. Well-made and fully functioning seatbelts can resist substantial force and remain intact during a collision. These seat belts may be the result of manufacturing errors.
- Unlatching: Seatbelt latches are created for ease of use. Sometimes, a defective seat belt may unlatch when it cannot withstand the force of a collision. As a result the occupant of a vehicle may be ejected. Inertial unlatching cases can be difficult to prove because authorities tend to believe that the motorist simply did not have a seatbelt on at the time of the collision.
- False Latching: When a latch plate sounds and looks like it is engaged but it is actually not secure, the seatbelt is defective and "false-latching" has occurred. This is an extremely dangerous defect because the occupant believes he or she is wearing a seatbelt when it has in fact not been properly fastened and will definitely not protect the occupant in the event of a crash.
- Retractor Failure: The retractor’s role is to lock the seatbelt in place, snug to the occupant’s torso or waist. When a retractor allows substantial slack, it will not properly secure the vehicle during an accident.
- Door Mounted Seatbelt Failure: Seatbelts that are attached to the door pose significant risks if the door opens up during a collision.
If you have been injured in a car accident as a result of a defective seatbelt, please contact the experienced Chicago auto product liability lawyers of The Bradley Law Firm. In any car accident case, remember, the vehicle is the most important piece of evidence. This is particularly true for auto product defect cases. That is why it is critical to preserve the vehicle in tact after the crash so it can be examined for all types of product defects including seat belt failure.