WRONGFUL DEATH AND DEFECTIVE AUTO PARTS ATTORNEY - CENTRAL FLORIDA

Nearly 40 years ago, the United States government established the first set of standards for seat belts in motor vehicles. In many states, including Florida, wearing a seat belt is required by law. While seat belts unquestionably save lives, their effectiveness depends largely on proper construction and implementation. All too often, a wrongful death results from a seat belt malfunction or another defective auto part. A qualified attorney can assist those who have been victimized by such defects, and our central Florida firm has a strong track record of attaining compensation.

• Seat Belt Defects and SUV Rollovers
• Types of Seat Belt Defects
• Wrongful Death: What You Can Do

SEAT BELT DEFECTS AND SUV ROLLOVERS

When the federal government first established seat belt standards, rollover crashes made up a small percentage of overall accidents. Since the arrival of sports utility vehicles (SUVs) on the market, however, this statistic has dramatically changed. As of 2004, approximately 11,000 people die each year die in rollover crashes in the United States (see our SUV Rollover page).

Some critics believe that, in order to avoid negative publicity, big auto companies try to blame the proliferation of rollover deaths on passengers. Some of these companies claim that the main reason people have died in rollover crashes is that they were not wearing their seat belts. At a time in which nationwide seatbelt use is at a historic high, these claims appear to be unfounded. A 2004 Public Citizen study reported that 2,000 people died in one year in rollover crashes even while wearing their seat belts. Four hundred of these victims were partially or fully ejected from the vehicle. One of the primary functions of a seat belt is to prevent vehicle ejection, and critics believe that the failure of some seat belts to do so may contribute to the many highway fatalities that occur each year.

To speak with a wrongful death and defective auto parts attorney in central Florida who can evaluate you case, contact Timothy H. David, P.A.

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TYPES OF SEAT BELT DEFECTS

Defective auto parts cost lives. Following are the most common types of seat belt defects that can result in a wrongful death suit:

• Inertial unlatching — the seat belt becomes unbuckled by being knocked against the passenger or car.
• Unintentional unlatching — the seat belt is not properly designed to resist inadvertent unlatching.
• Lap-only belts — in some older vehicles, seat belts only latch across the lap and do not protect the shoulders or upper torso. This can result in wrongful death, spinal cord damage, or other severe injury. The auto industry knew about this for over 30 years, yet failed to inform the public.
• Excessive seat belt slack — a seat belt that is too loose reduces its effectiveness and can result in ejection or "submarining," which occurs when a passenger slides under his or her seat belt.

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WRONGFUL DEATH: WHAT CAN YOU DO

If you or someone you love has sustained an injury or wrongful death caused by defective auto parts, an attorney at our central Florida firm can help. Contact Timothy H. David, P.A. for more information on seat belt recalls, or visit our victims' compensation — case studies page to see how others have taken a stand against the auto industry.