Defective Seat Belt Lawyers New York

Experienced Personal Injury Attorneys Representing Victims of Defective Auto Products in NYC and Across NY

Thousands of preventable deaths occur annually due to malfunctioning seat belts. This is a sobering fact considering that most of us believe we are sufficiently protecting ourselves by using a seat belt. The assumption is largely correct; some 15,000 lives are saved annually by the use of seat belts. Unfortunately, despite the fact that 71 percent of motorists are currently buckling up, people can still be killed in a debilitating car wreck by a faulty latch or restraint mechanism.

The New York City defective seat belt lawyers of Proner & Proner are all too familiar with the devastating consequences of defective auto products. They have successfully handled numerous auto accident and product liability lawsuits on behalf of people harmed by defective seat belts. They also provide compassionate representation to families who lost a loved one to wrongful death due to a faulty seat belt in an NYC car accident.

Why Seat Belts Fail in NYC Car Accidents

There are many reasons why seat belts may not function properly. Some of the most common problems are:

• False latching – In this instance, a seat belt can feel and look as if it is latched when the internal securing mechanisms are not engaged. Because of this, the seat belt does not work as planned and auto inhabitants are not sufficiently protected. Serious injuries or death can result.
• Inertial unlatching – This can occur when the seat belt becomes unlatched during the accident even when internal mechanisms used to secure the seat belt are in place. This most often occurs in buckles that don’t have a “lock-for-the-latch” feature. This design often prevents unlatching, but it is not universally used.
• Seat belt slack – When there is too much slack or “give” in the belt, it will fail to lock the driver or passenger in place during an auto accident.
• Lap and automatic door mounted belts – While automatic belts have been shown to cause neck and spine injury (and in some cases, decapitation), lap belts have contributed to paralysis and are not as safe as new, three-point belts.

Alarmingly, despite the importance of reliable seat belts, auto manufacturers often scrimp on life-saving internal devices when it comes to the seat belt buckle. They also use cheap materials for straps, all in the name of frugality.

If you or someone you love has been the victim of an injury due to a defective seat belt, the experienced car crash attorneys at Proner & Proner in New York City can help you obtain the compensation to which you are entitled.

Contact Our Experienced NYC Defective Seat Belt Lawyers

The sole purpose of seat belts is to protect the lives of vehicle occupants. Car manufacturers should bear this fact in mind when designing this all-important internal device. Those who fail to uphold their duty to make seat belts as safe as possible should be held accountable for their actions.

The defective seat belt attorneys of Proner & Proner, based in New York City and representing clients in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx, NY, can represent you in your personal injury claim and will fight to ensure that your rights are protected.

To get your life back in order after a defective seatbelt-related accident, contact the attorneys of the New York City law offices of Proner & Proner today.