Every year, thousands of lives are saved by seat belts during car accidents. However, sometimes seat belts don’t perform as they should, or their materials or position are poorly designed, causing the seat belts to inflict injuries rather than prevent them.
If your seatbelt caused your injuries during a car accident, you could have a product liability case against the manufacturer of your car or seat belt. A personal injury attorney from Lavent Law Personal Injury Lawyer can help you investigate whether you have a product liability case and determine what your options are for financial compensation.
Common Seat Belt Injuries
You may have a case against the auto manufacturer in any of these scenarios:
- You were injured because your seat belt did not restrain you during a car accident
- You suffered a sternal fracture
- Your intestines or other internal organs were injured in a car crash because of your seat belt
These are only a few of the injuries associated with defective seat belts. Your doctor will inform you of what may have caused your injuries after examining you.
Multiple Parties May Be at Fault
If you were in an accident and the seat belt malfunctioned, the manufacturer could be negligent or responsible. However, when it comes to seat belt liability, a case is typically not so cut-and-dry. For example, your injuries may have been sustained due to the malfunction, but the actual car accident may have been caused by another driver. In a situation such as this, you could be owed compensation by both parties.
Determining this requires a detailed analysis of all factors contributing to your crash and resulting injuries:
- Police accident reports
- Photographic evidence
- Video footage from traffic cameras
- Eyewitness statements
- Current complaints against the auto manufacturer
- Medical records and your doctor’s opinion on the cause of your injuries
- And more
Comparative Negligence in Florida
The auto manufacturer does not need to be completely at fault for you to have a product liability case. Your Miami seat belt injury lawyer will identify all negligent parties and name them in your lawsuit so that everyone responsible is held accountable.
During the course of your trial, the percentage of negligence that should be assigned to all parties involved will be determined, including your own. Whatever percentage you are found responsible for will reduce your final settlement amount accordingly. For example, if you are awarded a $20,000 settlement but are found to be 10 percent at fault, you will only receive $18,000.
Schedule Your Consultation With a Car Crash Lawyer in Miami
Holding an auto manufacturer accountable for defective seat belts is important for ensuring that you receive compensation and ensuring that other people are not harmed by the same negligent quality control.
Filing a lawsuit becomes much easier with the help of an experienced attorney from Lavent Law Personal Injury Lawyer. We can answer any questions you have and provide you with sound legal advice. Call (305) 257-9464 or fill out the form below to schedule a consultation.