Seattle Seat Belt Injury Lawyer
Seat belts are supposed to keep you safe. If poor design has led to your seat belt injury, you should be compensated. Contact a Seattle seat belt malfunction attorney at our firm.
One of the major safety features designed into practically every vehicle is the seat belt. We’ve all heard about how seat belts save lives—in fact, it’s against the law not to wear your safety belt—so what do you do when your seat belt harms you?
Here’s the short answer: You should contact a Seattle seat belt injury lawyer who can help you pursue compensation from those responsible.
How Can a Seat Belt Harm You?
There are two main ways your seat belt can cause you injury, rather than preventing it. The first is if the seat belt was poorly designed and malfunctioned during your collision. The second is when a crash impact was so substantial that you suffered injuries as a result of the seat belt holding you in place.
Seat belts are crucial safety features in a vehicle, designed to protect occupants from harm in the event of a collision. The following are commonly associated with seat belt failure or a large crash impact in Seattle auto collisions:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries: A blow or jolt to the head can cause a TBI, ranging from mild concussions to severe brain damage. A malfunctioning seat belt can lead to the head hitting the dashboard, steering wheel, or window, resulting in a TBI.
- Fractures: The force of a collision can throw an occupant around the vehicle, leading to broken bones in the arms, legs, or pelvis.
- Facial Trauma: The face is exposed and vulnerable during a collision, making it susceptible to cuts, bruises, and fractures.
- Whiplash: Whiplash is a neck injury caused by the sudden, forceful movement of the head and neck during a collision. A malfunctioning seat belt can lead to this movement, causing whiplash.
- Spinal, Neck, and Back Injuries: The spine provides support and stability, but it can be vulnerable to injury during a collision. A malfunctioning seat belt can result in spinal, neck, and back injuries, from minor strains to debilitating conditions.
- Chest and Rib Cage Injuries: The chest and rib cage are exposed during a collision and can suffer from bruises to broken bones.
If you have been involved in an auto collision and have suffered serious injuries due to a malfunctioning seat belt, it is important to seek legal representation. A Seattle personal injury lawyer can help you obtain the compensation you deserve and hold the responsible parties accountable.
What Could Have Caused Your Seat Belt to Malfunction?
The main reasons a seat belt will fail to operate properly are poor design and shoddy manufacturing. When manufacturers fail to test seat belts correctly and meet all safety requirements, they can be held liable for the injuries they’ve caused you.
The most common design and manufacturing defects that lead to serious seat belt injuries in Seattle are as follows:
- Retractor failure
- Ripped, torn, or otherwise defective seat belt webbing
- Excessive spooling
- Poor design or manufacturing
- Vehicle system failure
Other Ways Your Seat Belt Could Injure You
In addition to your seat belt malfunctioning, you can also be injured by your safety belt itself. In especially serious car accidents, the force of the collision can cause you grave injury because your seat belt held you in the car as it was designed to do.
Your body will strain against the seat belt with such force that it will cause trauma to your abdomen and chest. When that happens, you can sue the party responsible for the crash.
Call a Seattle Seat Belt Injury Attorney
Most of us barely acknowledge our seat belts. We click them into place after getting into our vehicles, fully expecting them to function properly and keep us safe in the event of a wreck. When your seat belt hasn’t operated the way it should and injuries have resulted, someone should be held financially accountable.
If negligence was involved in your injury, a Seattle seat belt injury lawyer from our office can help you file a personal injury claim to recover your damages. To get in touch with an attorney at Craig Swapp & Associates and schedule a free case review, simply call 1-800-404-9000 or fill out the form at the bottom of this page.
