The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that 83% of drivers and occupants wear seat belts and thousands of lives are saved every year due to the devices. However, seat belt recalls are made by car manufacturers on a regular basis due to poor designs or manufacturing defects. Seat belt recalls in recent years include a:
* 1.3 million vehicle recall by Toyota
* 57,000 vehicle recall by Lexus
* 59,000 vehicle recall by Nissan
*7,918 vehicle recall by Jaguar
Seat belt recalls may be made if consumers or the manufacturer discover malfunctions such as inertial unlatching, false latching or problems with the seat belt's durability. Inertial unlatching occurs when a seat belt becomes unlatched during an accident from the inertia of a user's body against the belt. This problem commonly occurs on systems that employ buckles without lock-for-the-latch designs. If a seat belt appears to be locked in place, but can be pulled free with less than five pounds of pull, it is falsely latched. A victim may recall putting their seat belt on but the buckle may not have latched properly and the user can be seriously injured or killed during a collision. A seat belt system's lack of durability can cause the belt to produce too much slack or retract too quickly or slowly. Material on the belt may fray or be damaged by faulty seat belt retractors. If you were injured in a crash because of a defective seat belt , you should contact an experienced personal injury attorney. The Law Office of Thomas M. Kiley, a law firm in Andover , Massachusetts, takes time when speaking with you about your case and works with you on a contingent fee basis so there are NO FEES unless our trained personal injury lawyers wins your case. Call now for a FREE evaluation of your case - 1-800-410-2769 .

Cases We Accept

Blog

Defective Products & Liability

View All

Latest News

View All

Library

Defective Products & Liability

View All

Case Results

$ 3.5 million Settlement for
auto injury

Our eighteen-year-old client was driving on an interstate into the early morning sun. As he drove over a rise in the road, he struck a car that was disabled and stopped in the middle of the road because a 150-pound wheel and tire detached from a tractor-trailer rig traveling in the opposite direction. The lugs holding the tire had broken off, causing the tire and wheel to travel across the median strip, and hit and disable the stopped vehicle.
Awarded: $ 3.5 million

$1,000,000 Jury Verdict for
86 year-old woman

Our client an 86 year-old woman sustained an injury after being struck by a bus. The inattentive bus driver was warned by a passenger that the woman was crossing in front of the bus but could not stop in time to avoid impact.
Awarded: $1,000,000

$785,000 Settlement for
crushed ankle

Our client was operating his motorcycle on a two-lane road when a large box truck made a U-turn into his path of travel. The client attempted to avoid the collision by laying his motorcycle on its side. Unfortunately his lower leg and ankle came in contact with the truck causing seven fractures and soft tissue injury.
Awarded: $785,000

DISCLAIMER: Please note that every case is different and these verdicts and settlements, while accurate, do not represent what we may obtain for you in your case.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a defective seat belt?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that 83% of drivers and occupants wear seat belts and thousands of lives are saved every year due to the devices. However, seat belt recalls are made by car manufacturers on a regular basis due to poor designs or manufacturing defects.

Seat belt recalls in recent years include a:

* 1.3 million vehicle recall by Toyota

* 57,000 vehicle recall by Lexus

* 59,000 vehicle recall by Nissan

*7,918 vehicle recall by Jaguar

Seat belt recalls may be made if consumers or the manufacturer discover malfunctions such as inertial unlatching, false latching or problems with the seat belt's durability.

Inertial unlatching occurs when a seat belt becomes unlatched during an accident from the inertia of a user's body against the belt. This problem commonly occurs on systems that employ buckles without "lock-for-the-latch designs."

If a seat belt appears to be locked in place, but can be pulled free with less than five pounds of pull, it is "falsely latched." A victim may recall putting their seat belt on but the buckle may not have latched properly and the user can be seriously injured or killed during a collision.

A seat belt system's lack of durability can cause the belt to produce too much slack or retract too quickly or slowly. Material on the belt may fray or be damaged by faulty seat belt retractors.

If you were injured in a crash because of a defective seat belt, you should contact an experienced personal injury attorney. The Law Office of Thomas M. Kiley, a law firm in Andover, Massachusetts, takes time when speaking with you about your case and works with you on a contingent fee basis so there are NO FEES unless our trained personal injury lawyers wins your case. Call now for a FREE evaluation of your case - 1-800-410-2769.

Share |

Need Help Now?

Kiley Law Group
342 North Main Street
P.O. Box 3040
Andover, MA 01810
Phone: 978-474-8670
Fax: 978.474.8946
Toll Free: 800-410-2769

Get Directions