Lewisville Seatback Failure Lawyer
What is seatback failure?
In rear end collisions (even at low speeds, e.g., 25 miles per hour) the backwards force of a passenger can cause the seat to break and hurl the occupant backwards in a violent manner.
What kinds of injuries can be sustained?
Seatback failure causes different risks to different passengers. Say you have an infant strapped in a rear facing car seat in the back. She can be injured due to the seat slamming into her or due to the parent actually being thrown backwards into the rear compartment.
Passengers in the front, on the other hand, can suffer severe head, back, and neck injuries. If a victim gets hurled into the back compartment, rescue workers may have a harder time getting him out and getting him to emergency care, which can exacerbate his injuries.
Is it true that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration still uses seatback failure regulations from 1967?
As of 2010, the NHTSA still has not updated the official seatback failure regulations. Industrial engineering literature convincingly shows that poorly designed seatbacks can fail even in low velocity collisions, causing serious injuries to the back, neck, and head. Many manufacturers have been taken to court over these failures, including Hyundai, GM, and Ford.
If you or a loved one has been hurt in a seatback failure, who is liable for damages?
The answer depends on the specifics of the accident. The manufacturer will likely be at least partially to blame. But the driver who rear-ended you may also be at fault, and you may have options to get compensation from that driver’s insurance company or even from another driver or entity who contributed to the accident in some way.
Where can you go for good legal advice about seatback failure cases?
Carrollton product liability attorney Dina Steele can answer your urgent questions about this kind of accident. Ms. Steele has years of experience dealing specifically with Texas personal injury cases. For help with your matter today, call 214.333.HELP (4357).