Seatbelt Injuries In an Oklahoma City Car Accident
Seatbelts have improved the chances of survival in car accidents for decades, saving the lives of an estimated 14,955 motorists in a single recent year. The crash force of an accident places tremendous strain on the body, turning a 100-pound person into a 3,000-pound force in a collision at only 30 miles per hour. When a seatbelt functions correctly, it prevents death but may also cause injuries, specifically from the seatbelt itself. When a seatbelt fails to function correctly due to a design defect, manufacturing mistake, or improper installation, it can compound the seriousness of car accident injuries.
Oklahoma Seatbelt Laws
Under Oklahoma Title 14 §12-417, Oklahoma requires all motorists to wear seatbelts. The law states the following:
“Every operator and front seat passenger of a Class A commercial motor vehicle, Class B commercial motor vehicle, Class C commercial motor vehicle or a passenger vehicle operated in this state shall wear a properly adjusted and fastened safety seat belt system, required to be installed in the motor vehicle when manufactured … For the purposes of this section, “passenger vehicle” shall mean a Class D motor vehicle, but shall not include trucks, truck-tractors, recreational vehicles, motorcycles, or motorized bicycles, or a vehicle used primarily for farm use which is registered and licensed …”
Drivers may be cited and fined for failing to wear a seatbelt.
Understanding Seatbelt Injuries In Oklahoma City
After a car accident, medical providers often recognize injuries that are specific to seatbelts. When an accident victim presents with several seatbelt-related injuries, doctors may diagnose them with “seatbelt syndrome.” Even when functioning correctly and preventing the motorist’s expulsion from the vehicle, a seatbelt can cause injuries such as the following:
- Fractures of the clavicle
- Soft-tissue injuries to the shoulders
- Fractured ribs
- Chest and thoracic injuries
- Damage to the intestines
- Hip fractures
- Pelvic fractures
- Severe contusions
In the worst cases, seatbelts can cause deadly aortic rupture and other injuries to the heart and respiratory system.
Seatbelt Malfunctions and Design Defects
Seatbelts can cause specific injuries even when they function at their best; however, when they have a defective design or a manufacturing mistake, the manufacturer could be liable for the damages caused by worsened injuries. In other cases, the company that installed or reinstalled the car’s seatbelts could be liable for the damages. Common seatbelt malfunctions include the following:
- Defective designs, such as an improper angle
- Failed seatbelt webbing
- Stitching failure
- Failed seatbelt lock function, allowing the seatbelt to spool out instead of locking on impact
- Failed seatbelt anchor system
- Faulty latch device
- Accidental release due to improper release placement
When a seatbelt doesn’t function correctly, it may also allow the motorist to experience a more powerful impact from the car’s airbag, causing serious airbag injuries.
An experienced car accident lawyer pursues compensation from the liable party who caused the accident. A lawyer may also seek compensation through a defective product claim against a seatbelt manufacturer if the medical report indicates that the seatbelt caused severe, preventable injuries or contributed to the severity of the injuries.
How Can a Car Accident Lawyer in Oklahoma City Help My Seatbelt Injury Case?
If you experienced a worsened outcome in your car accident due to seatbelt injuries or were harmed by a defective or improperly installed seatbelt, call the experienced car accident attorneys at Dan Davis Law at (405) 930-4210. Our law firm pursues all legal avenues for compensation available to our clients for the most favorable outcome in every case.