Our Los Angeles Seatbelt Injury Lawyer Can Help You
The City of Los Angeles is the most populous in the U.S. state of California. With roughly 3.9 million residents within the city limits as of 2020, Los Angeles is the second-most populous city in the United States, behind only New York City; it is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of the Southern California region. If you’ve been injured in a seatbelt-related accident in Los Angeles, our team of experienced Los Angeles Seatbelt Injury Lawyers can help you get the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Seat belts are designed to protect drivers and passengers in the event of a car accident. However, in some cases, seat belts themselves can cause injuries.
Proving that the seat belt was responsible for your injury can be difficult. In many cases, the seat belt may have prevented more serious injuries from occurring but may have also caused minor injuries. It can be challenging to determine the exact cause of your injury and to prove that the seat belt was responsible.
If you have been injured in a car accident and believe that your seat belt contributed to your injuries, you may want to consult with a personal injury attorney who has experience in seat belt injury cases. A seat belt injury attorney can evaluate your case and help you determine if you have a viable claim for compensation.
How Common Are Seat Belt Failures?
Seat belt failures are relatively rare, but they can occur. Seat belts are designed to withstand tremendous force during a car accident, and they are subject to strict federal safety standards. However, seat belt failures can still happen due to a variety of reasons, including:
- Defective Design: In some cases, the seat belt may have a defective design that can cause it to fail during an accident.
- Defective Manufacturing: If the seat belt was not manufactured properly, it may be more prone to failure.
- Wear and Tear: Over time, seat belts can become worn and may not function as intended, especially if they are not maintained properly.
- Improper Installation: If the seat belt is not installed correctly, it may not function properly during an accident.
While seat belt failures are relatively rare, they can have serious consequences, including injuries or even fatalities.
Common Seat Belt Defects
Several common seat belt defects can cause them to fail during an accident or not function as intended. These defects include:
- Defective Buckles: Buckles can fail if they are made of low-quality materials or if they are not manufactured properly.
- Torn or Frayed Webbing: Over time, the webbing of the seat belt can become worn, torn, or frayed, which can cause it to fail during an accident.
- Inertial Unlatching: This is a defect that can cause the seat belt to unlatch during an accident, even if the buckle is securely fastened.
- Retractor Failure: The retractor is the mechanism that allows the seat belt to retract and stay in place during normal driving. If the retractor fails, the seat belt may not function as intended during an accident.
- Failure to Lock: During an accident, the seat belt should lock in place to prevent the occupant from being thrown forward. If the seat belt fails to lock, it may not provide the necessary protection during an accident.
It’s important to note that even if your seat belt did not have any defects, it may still fail to function properly during an accident if it was not installed or maintained correctly.
If you have been injured in a car accident and believe that a defective seat belt caused or contributed to your injuries, you may want to consult with a personal injury attorney who has experience in seat belt defect cases.
Injuries Due to Seatbelt Defects
A defective seatbelt can cause a wide range of injuries in the event of a car accident. Some of the most common injuries resulting from a defective seatbelt include:
- Whiplash Injuries: A seatbelt that fails to restrain a person properly during a car accident can cause their head and neck to snap forward and backward, leading to whiplash injuries.
- Traumatic Brain Injuries: If the occupant’s head strikes the steering wheel or dashboard due to a failed seatbelt, it can result in a traumatic brain injury.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: A defective seatbelt can cause severe damage to the spinal cord, resulting in paralysis or other serious long-term effects.
- Broken Bones: A seatbelt failure can cause the occupant to be thrown forward or sideways, resulting in broken bones.
- Internal Injuries: A defective seatbelt can fail to protect the occupant’s internal organs, resulting in serious injuries such as internal bleeding or damage to the liver, spleen, or kidneys.
Who Can Be Held Responsible for Seat Belt Failure?
Several parties may be responsible for a seat belt failure, depending on the circumstances of the case. These parties may include:
- The Seat Belt Manufacturer: If a defect in the seat belt caused it to fail during an accident, the manufacturer of the seat belt may be held liable for any resulting injuries.
- The Vehicle Manufacturer: If the seat belt was not installed correctly or was not designed to function properly with the vehicle, the vehicle manufacturer may be held liable.
- The Installer or Repair Technician: If the seat belt was not installed or maintained correctly, the installer or repair technician may be held liable for any resulting injuries.
- The Driver or Other Parties Involved in the Accident: If the driver or other parties involved in the accident were negligent and contributed to the seat belt failure, they may be held liable for any resulting injuries.
Determining liability in a seat belt failure case can be complex and will depend on the specific facts and circumstances of the case.
If you have been injured due to a seat belt failure, it’s important to consult with a Los Angeles seatbelt injury lawyer who has experience in these types of cases to help determine who may be responsible for your injuries and help you seek the compensation that you deserve.
What Types of Damages Can I Recover for a Seatbelt Injury in Los Angeles?
If you have suffered a seatbelt injury in Los Angeles, you may be entitled to recover damages for your losses. The types of damages that you can recover for a seatbelt injury in Los Angeles are similar to those in California, and they include:
- Economic Damages: These damages are meant to compensate you for your financial losses resulting from the injury, such as medical bills, lost wages, and property damage.
- Non-economic Damages: These damages are meant to compensate you for non-financial losses such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.
- Punitive Damages: In certain cases where the seatbelt defect is due to the willful or intentional misconduct of the defendant, punitive damages may be awarded to punish the defendant and deter others from engaging in similar conduct.
It’s important to note that California law follows a comparative negligence system. It means that the number of damages you can recover may be reduced if you are found to be partially at fault for the accident.
Additionally, there is a statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit in Los Angeles, which means that you must file your lawsuit within a certain period of time after the accident occurred.
If you believe that you have suffered a seatbelt injury in Los Angeles due to a defective seatbelt, it’s important to consult with a personal injury attorney who has experience in seatbelt defect cases to understand your legal options and protect your rights.
How Does Los Angeles Seatbelt Injury Lawyer Can Help with Seatbelt Injuries?
The Pacific Attorney Group is a personal injury law firm in Los Angeles that has experience handling cases involving seatbelt injuries. If you have been injured due to a defective seatbelt, the Pacific Attorney Group can help you recover compensation for your injuries.
We have experience handling a wide range of personal injury cases, including those involving defective seatbelts.
We at the Pacific Attorney Group will conduct a thorough investigation to determine the cause of your seatbelt injury. We will examine the accident scene, and consult with experts to identify any defects or malfunctions in the seatbelt system. Our team will gather evidence to support your claim. They will use this evidence to build a strong case on your behalf.
After gathering all the evidence, our team at the Pacific Attorney Group will negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf to ensure that you receive fair compensation for your injuries. We will work to obtain a settlement that covers your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.
If a settlement cannot be reached, the Pacific Attorney Group will represent you in court. We will use their experience and knowledge of the law to present a compelling case on your behalf and seek the compensation you deserve.
Overall, the Pacific Attorney Group will help you navigate the complex legal process of pursuing compensation for a seatbelt injury. We will provide you with guidance and support throughout your case, and work tirelessly to help you obtain the compensation you need to recover from your injuries.
You can contact us today and book a free consultation. During the consultation, you can discuss the details of your case and learn more about your legal rights and options.