Defective Seatbelts & Seatbacks

We Hold Manufacturers Accountable for Defective Seatbelts & Seat Backs

Click It or Ticket It has become one of the most successful road safety campaigns of the last few decades and spreads the message of seatbelts saving lives. Seatbelts and seat backs are designed to work in conjunction with each other, and the other occupant protection components, to protect occupants during a crash. When these safety systems fail due to defects the injuries can be severe and are often preventable.

Some of the common seatbelt defects I have seen include:

Seatbelt unlatching

 Seatbelt unlatching is where the seatbelt releases during the crash impact.

False latching

False latching is a situation where a seatbelt will appear to be buckled but is not secure

Seatbelt webbing failure or tearing

Seatbelt webbing failure or tearing can result from poor materials used or improper stitching.

Defective retractors

Defective retractors allowing excessive slack sufficient to allow the occupant to get out of position. The retractor is designed to lock and prevent further spool out of seatbelt webbing in a crash.

Pretensioner failure

Many modern seatbelts include a pretensioner which is designed to fire during a crash sequence to help hold the occupant in a safe position.

Seat Back Failures

Vehicle seat backs are supposed to remain upright during a collision. However, many vehicles have dangerously weak seat designs that can collapse rearward in crashes. When that happens the occupant can slip out from the seatbelt and be ejected or strike other passengers or objects in the back of the vehicle.

What Happens When a Seat Back Fails?

• The front seat collapses into the rear compartment
• Backseat passengers (often children) are crushed or injured
• The front seat passenger may slip out from under the seatbelt and be ejected
• Occupants suffer severe spinal and head injuries

Despite known safety concerns, some manufacturers continue to use seat designs that do not adequately protect occupants.