South Jersey Seatbelt Injuries Lawyer

Seatbelts indisputably save lives—an estimated 374,276 lives saved between 1975 and 2017. About half of all car accident fatalities occur to unrestrained motorists. But even as a seatbelt saves a life, it can also cause injuries from the crash force of the accident propelling the belted motorist forward against the seatbelt, which then snaps them back against the seat. The crash force of an accident transforms a 100-pound person into a 3,000-pound force in a collision at only 30 miles per hour. Even when a seatbelt functions at its best, the result can be injuries to a motorist but in some cases, a seatbelt’s design flaw, installation error, or manufacturing mistake may be directly responsible for unnecessarily severe injuries.

What Type of Seatbelt Defects Cause Injuries in Car Accidents?

Most motorists never think twice about the seatbelts in a vehicle they purchase, but some automobile manufacturers put extra effort into designing, producing, and installing a safe, effective seatbelt while others only meet the minimum federal regulations or produce vehicles with seatbelts that have flawed designs, manufacturing mistakes, and marketing errors that allow a seatbelt to cause injuries. Seatbelt defects that cause or contribute to the severity of car accident injuries include the following:

• False latching: when a seatbelt buckle seems to connect and latch into place but remains unsecured
• Defective seatbelt buckle: buckles are sometimes accidentally released in an accident instead of remaining latched to hold the motorist in place during the crash
• Failed seatbelt retractor: seatbelts that fail to lock into place during a collision
• Weak or damaged seatbelt webbing: when manufacturers use poor materials or a defect occurs during the manufacturing of seatbelt staps, they may stretch or tear during an accident
• Defective design or installation: When a seatbelt’s angle isn’t designed or installed correctly, the pressure points may not be correctly positioned, causing damage to internal organs
• Improper or inadequate stitching: poorly stitched seatbelt straps can cause tearing during the pressure of a collision, compromising the belt’s effectiveness

These and other seatbelt defects can cause serious harm during an accident. Speak to a car accident attorney in South Jersey to learn more about your case. 

What Types of Injuries Result From Seatbelt Defects 

The crash force of a collision places a motorist’s body under tremendous trauma. When a seatbelt has a serious design defect, manufacturing mistake, or installation error that interferes with the belt’s ability to properly restrain the motorist without contributing to the injuries, the result can be injuries such as the following:

• Broken clavicle
• Broken ribs
• Shoulder injuries
• Abdominal injuries, including injuries to the intestines
• Whiplash
• Back injuries

A defective seatbelt can also cause traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and other catastrophic injuries if it fails completely, resulting in a motorist’s ejection from the vehicle or collision with the dashboard or windshield.

How Can a Seatbelt Injury Lawyer in South Jersey Help My Case?

Medical experts can determine when a seatbelt causes car accident injuries, or when a defective seatbelt contributes to the seriousness of car accident injuries. In these cases, they may diagnose a car accident injury victim as having “seatbelt syndrome.” If seatbelt injuries cause increased economic and non-economic damages in an accident, a South Jersey car accident attorney can help you recover the maximum compensation available. Contact the injury lawyers in South Jersey today so we can evaluate your case and develop the best strategy for your financial recovery while you focus on your physical recovery.