Seatbelt and Airbag Defects

Restraint systems in automobiles and trucks can prevent or lessen injury in crashes when they work properly. However, when the restraint systems fail, seatbelts and buckle retractors can allow, and even cause serious injury or death. A Hogan Law Office PC, case, Force v. Ford, culminated in a $32.5 million jury verdict in Orlando, Florida. This case established that the seatbelt retractor used in the U.S. Ford Escort was defective because it lacked the safety features used in the same vehicle in Canada.   Some restraint system design defects are identified in the paragraphs that follow.  To read about emerging issues pertaining to potential product liability theories regarding seatbelts and buckle retractors, click here.

Seatbelt defects

Before a seatbelt case can begin, there must be proof that the client was properly seatbelted. Forensic evidence found on the belt system can provide this proof and, therefore, the vehicle and its components must be preserved. Some seatbelt defects are:

Buckle retractor defects

The function of the shoulder belt retractor is to lock the seatbelt webbing and hold the occupant in place. Some buckle retractor defects are listed below: