Common Causes of Seatbelt Failure

Seatbelt failure is a scary thought. With millions of vehicles on the road, many traveling over 50 mph, there are bound to be accidents. The seatbelt is your first defense against injury and even death during a motor vehicle accident. So, if your seatbelt isn’t protecting you, what is? False latching and other problems can cause injury and even death.

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Today, seatbelt failure due to malfunction is not common. However, there are some very real problems with seatbelt design, and seatbelt problems that could put you or your passengers at risk. Take a moment to learn a bit about causes of seatbelt failure. Being able to spot a seatbelt problem could save your life. Here are the most common causes of failure:

• Not wearing the seatbelt properly: Most of the seatbelt design you see today is the three-point design, which has a conjoined sash and lap belt. However, some people, especially children, like to pull the sash part behind their backs or not wear the seatbelt at all. This is extremely dangerous. You should also wear the seatbelt properly, according to federal law and state laws, with the sash going from the center of your shoulder and across your chest to your waist. If the seatbelt is too big to be worn that way, your child should be in a child safety seat with a harness or use an adjustable holder for the strap. Lap belt designs alone are very ineffective.

While not wearing your seatbelt is extremely dangerous, especially during a motor vehicle accident when you could be ejected from car, the rest of these seatbelt failure reasons listed below are due to manufacturer seatbelt problems. Have you been injured due to a seatbelt failure problem? Talk to a lawyer today to learn about your legal rights.

• Unlatching: There have been some cases of seatbelts coming unlatched (called inertial unlatching), which is a type of seatbelt failure that usually happens during a high-impact motor vehicle accident. One of the main ways inertial unlatching can occur is through false latching initially. With false latching, the seatbelt looks and sounds like it has clicked into place, but the release is actually only partially engaged or not engaged at all. You can avoid inertial unlatching seatbelt failure problems by tugging on your seatbelt a few times after you’ve secured it to make sure that the latch plate really is in place correctly. Of course, seatbelt latch failure can also occur even if it latches correctly the first time.
  
  Seatbelt latch failure is a very serious problem. Not only can it cause accidents when you’re surprised by a seatbelt suddenly unlatching, but it can also cause you to become ejected from car. A high percentage of victims ejected from car due not survive.
• Torn Webbing: Seatbelts are made with webbing, a material that is designed to withstand incredible forces. If this webbing tears, it is a result of a seatbelt defect and could cause seatbelt failure during a car crash. Under normal conditions, the webbing should stay intact in any survivable collision. It is important to check the belts carefully, looking for damage, which can happen over time. Again, you could be ejected from car if the webbing is torn.
• Retractor Failure: Seatbelt designs all have retractors, which are meant to “lock” the webbing and hold you in place if there is an accident. However, if this device fails, it could result in extra slack. Even a few inches of extra slack could mean the difference between life and death during a car crash.

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Remember, even the best seatbelt design could lead to a seatbelt problem, like false latching, if there are defects in the manufacturing. Talking to a lawyer can help you get the money your need. Fill out this form to learn more for free today!

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