Car Seatback Failure

There are more than 6 million car accidents each year. 90 people die every day of car accident injuries. The road can be a dangerous place. Car safety features are designed to keep drivers and passengers safe. Even features as simple as the car seatback can fail and contribute to or cause additional injury.

Car Seatback Failure Injury

Seatback failure happens during a collision. The backrest part of the seat collapses – forward or backward – causing or contributing to injuries in a vehicle crash. A recent case illustrates how a seatback failure can cause harm to a driver or their passengers. People with injuries related to car seatback failure may have a valid product liability claim.

Seatback Failure Lawsuit

One recent case details a woman who was rear-ended by another vehicle. The accident did not cause her injuries – a defective seatback did.

Car Features That Fail

What happens when features are the cause of the injury? Suddenly, comfort or safety features become dangerous. Vehicle defects can contribute to or cause more injuries. When products fail and cause injury, you might have a valid product liability claim.

Car Crash Seatback Failure

In 2016, a woman driving a new Hyundai Elantra was rear-ended by the driver of a Ford pickup. Though she was wearing a seatbelt, she suffered serious injuries. An investigation found the woman’s seatback detached. The seatback failure was responsible for the severe nature of her injuries.

Lawsuit Against Hyundai

The injured woman worked with a product liability attorney to file a lawsuit against Hyundai. The defect was the main point of her lawsuit, stating she might not have suffered any injuries if the seat had not failed.

Hyundai Settles Out Of Court

After the first week of a jury trial, Hyundai attempted to settle the claim instead of letting a jury decide the verdict. Both sides negotiated and came to a mutual settlement agreement.

Lawsuit Settles Out Of Court

Hyundai offered a settlement and the injured woman accepted. However, it took 5 years and a week of a jury trial before Hyundai offered a fair settlement.

Seatback Defects

The seatback failure in the case above was a product liability claim. An investigation of the crash showed the car seat was the cause of the injuries. A product liability lawyer is skilled at investigating injury claims related to defective products.

Product Liability

Dangerous and defective products are the cause of thousands of injuries each year. When a manufacturer designs a defective product, product liability holds the company responsible for resulting injuries. But, companies don’t like to admit they did something wrong. Many times, a product liability attorney is needed to hold the company responsible.

Types of Product Defects

There are several types of product defects. They include:

Design Defects

These products are defective from the beginning. The design itself is defective.

Manufacturing Defects

These products become defective at the manufacturing or assembling stage. Manufacturing defects are lapses in the quality control process.

Marketing Defects

Improper labeling, inadequate instructions, or insufficient safety warnings contribute to the defective marketing of a product. 

Who Is Responsible?

In the United States, when a consumer purchases a product, there is an assumption they are not purchasing an inherently unsafe product. There is a reasonable standard of care each manufacturer and seller must meet when selling their products.

When a product is defective – whether by design, manufacturing, or marketing – the manufacturer and seller can be held liable. Manufacturers must properly test their products for safety in addition to providing adequate instructions. Where there is negligence, there are injuries.

When to Hire a Personal Injury Attorney

If you or a loved one were injured by a product defect, you may have a legal case. But, most manufacturers won’t admit there is a problem with a product. A product liability attorney can help investigate and establish your claim.

Lancaster Product Liability Attorney

If you have an injury caused by a defective product, contact an attorney for a free consultation. Our attorneys will help you understand your options. Contact us today for a free legal consultation.