There is no doubt that seat belts save numerous lives by restraining individuals in their seat upon impact, but seat belt defects can cause serious injury or death. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that more than 2.9 million people suffered seat belt injuries in 2002. In that same year almost 43,000 people died as a result of seat belt injuries.

The most common types of defects resulting in injury are:

• Shoulder only belts
• Lap only seat belts
• Shoulder belt retractors that fail to hold under load
• Shoulder belts that allow too much slack
• Seat belt buckles unlatching during rollovers or collisions
• Automatic or door mounted seatbelts

After an accident, especially when serious injuries have resulted, it is not always clear whether or not seat belt failure has occurred. If you or someone you love suspect that injuries occurred due to defects in your seat belt please contact an attorney right away to discuss your legal options.