Seatbelt Defects

The attorneys at the Law Offices of John C. Manoog, III represent people injured because of defective products that cause car accidents and other avoidable events. Seatbelt defects and other defective auto parts often make the impact of a crash worse than it otherwise would be for those involved. Our Cape Cod product liability lawyers work aggressively to ensure that the people whom we represent have their rights protected and asserted. We are committed to helping our clients hold the manufacturers responsible for their injuries fully accountable.

When seatbelts fail to work in the way that they are supposed to function, it can have tragic results. These safety devices are intended to help people avoid injuries in the event of an accident, rather than making those injuries worse. Unfortunately, problems with latches, retractors, and other seatbelt features can and do happen. Phantom latching, for example, happens when a seatbelt makes a clicking sound that leads the person using it to believe that the belt has latched. In reality, however, the buckle has failed to adequately latch. These and other defects can lead to serious head, neck, and back injuries and even death in some cases.

If you or a loved one is injured in a car accident, you have the right to seek compensation from those responsible. Defendants may include not only the negligent driver who caused the accident but also a seatbelt manufacturer whose defective device made your injuries worse. The money damages typically available in these cases include compensation for medical bills, property damage, missed wages, and pain, suffering, and emotional distress. In the tragic case that a person is killed in a car accident, his or her family has the right to seek similar compensation for the victim’s death. To get those money damages, you may need to file a lawsuit against a carmaker or parts maker.

In traditional negligence lawsuits, you need to prove that the person or entity that you are suing failed to live up to a certain “standard of care.” Lawsuits against seatbelt makers are based on Massachusetts’ implied warranty of merchantability, however, which is a different standard. That means that your attorney needs to show that the seatbelt was defective and that the defect caused or contributed to your injuries. The defect may be in the way that the seatbelt was designed or in how it was actually manufactured. In either case, expert witnesses can go a long way in establishing the specific defect, how it came into play in your accident, and how it caused you to be injured.

Even if you were partially to blame for the accident, such as if you were speeding at the time, you may still be able to get some compensation. The state’s modified comparative liability rule allows a person injured in an accident to get proportionate compensation, as long as he or she is not deemed 51 percent or more to blame for the crash.

At the Law Offices of John C. Manoog, III, we have been representing victims in car crash and other personal injury cases throughout Cape Cod since 1994. We understand the specific issues that often come up in seatbelt defect cases, and we know how to build strong legal claims for the people whom we represent. We also have the resources to draw on a wide range of experts to help build these cases. Our lawyers take the time to understand each client’s individual circumstances and craft a strategy that reflects their needs. We offer free consultations at our offices, or we can visit you at home or in the hospital if you are unable to come meet with us. We take most of our cases on a contingency fee basis, which means that we do not get paid unless you do. Call us at 888-262-6664 or contact us online to schedule a free initial consultation. Nós Falamos Português.