BuckleUpAmerica.org: The Dangers of Defective Seat Belts
When cars collide, destructive and often fatal forces are unleashed that can have dire consequences to occupants. These forces can be mitigated and rechanneled if a vehicle is crashworthy: safe design, crumple zones, well-designed and working seatbelts, airbags, and other safety systems. When any of these systems fail in a crash, then the question arises as to whether the failure is due to a design problem, a manufacturing defect, previous damage, or occupant mistake. A failure of any one system can be serious enough; when multiple systems fail in a crash, the occupants may be lucky to survive.
Seatbelts are a vital component of occupant protection, and have been proven effective through decades of experience. During a crash, a properly designed seatbelt will keep an occupant inside the vehicle, retard violent movements, and protect against bodily harm. Seatbelt usage is mandatory in the United States, and all occupants should use them all of the time. Unfortunately, injuries and deaths from defective seatbelts continue to occur, causing injuries to the necks, backs, shoulders, and legs of unlucky occupants. Whiplash and acute lower back pain are common symptoms of victims of defective seatbelts. These individuals may require surgery and/or pain management in order to recover from accidents where a defective seatbelt failed to provide protection.
There are several documented forms of seatbelt defect:
- Inertial unlatching - this occurs when the release button on the front face of the buckle is inertially disengaged by hitting the seat structure or the human body. This can be provoked by some frontal collisions, side impacts, and rollovers. The forward movement of the occupant into the back of the buckle may cause the buckle's spring to release the tension on the latch plate; the buckle opens and the occupant is effectively unbelted.
- Unintentional unlatching - occurs when the buckle's release button is higher than the cover, making it more likely to be hit by an object or body part and release during a collision. The Chrysler GEN 3 seatbelt buckle used between 1993 and 2002 is an example of this design defect.
- Lap-only seatbelts - failure to restrain the upper torso can lead to internal injuries, face fractures, damaged spines and brains, and death. Although phased out in the late 1980's, older vehicles on the road may have seatbelts of this defective design.
Other types of seatbelt defect include excessive seatbelt slack, faulty retractors, belts attached to doors or doorframes, and seatback failures and defects. The best advice: be aware of all safety-related recall notices from your vehicle's manufacturer, and have your dealership or mechanic inspect your seatbelts at least once a year. And buckle-up, for safety!
