- Client ReviewsIt is undeniable that the addition of the three-point seat belt has revolutionized vehicle safety in Canada and abroad. Unfortunately, these life-saving devices have the propensity to cut, choke or cause severe internal injury if there is a manufacturing defect.
Statistics from Transport Canadas 2007 survey of restraint use showed that most Canadian drivers buckle up when operating their vehicle, citing that 90.8 per cent of all vehicle occupants wore their safety belts. Though the natural inclination is to applaud these numbers, the reality is that a majority of Canadian drivers are at risk of being injured by a safety restraint, and the damage caused by one can be serious enough to permanently disable, disfigure or even kill the wearer.
The medical expenses, pain and suffering and lost wages that result from injuries involving safety restraints can be crushing, and if you or a loved one experienced bodily harm or if someone you love lost their life because of a malfunctioning seatbelt you may have cause to file a personal injury claim with an Ontario lawyer.
The injury lawyers at Greg Monforton and Partners understand the difficulties of coping with trauma from safety restraints, and we believe it is the victim’s right to be fairly and competently represented in court. Additionally, we will always fight for the MAXIMUM amount of compensation due to our clients.
To find out how we can help, simply fill out the Free Case Evaluation form on the right side of this page. The details of your case will always remain completely confidential and there is never any obligation to proceed. It is 100 per cent FREE.
What Types of Injuries are Caused?
Ontario was the first province in Canada to enact mandatory seat belt legislation in 1976, and now all provinces in Canada require a safety belt to be worn. Despite data pointing to safety restraints as a life-saving device, recent studies suggest that survivors of auto accidents may falsely report wearing a safety belt during the crash to avoid any legal penalties for not doing so. Because of this, the evidence that supports safety belts as lifesaving may be skewed.
A defective safety restraint can result in a too-tight fit, pre-tensioner failure causing a fit that is too loose, and other unsafe conditions. Since 1996, there have been over one thousand safety recalls on safety restraints.
The following are some of the most common injuries from seat belts:
- Abdominal lacerations
- Bruises
- Chest wounds
- Dislocation
- Head trauma
- Internal organ damage
- Neck trauma
- Paralysis
- Spinal damage
- Upper and lower extremity fractures
- Whiplash
- and so many others.
Although current Canadian safety restraint usage is very high, the government is planning on increasing fines and eliminating exemptions from legislation in order to save an approximate additional 300 lives each year, according to data from Transport Canada.
Safety Restraint Defects
During the manufacturing process a number of mistakes can cause the seat belt to become a weapon rather in a crash than a safety device.
Some of the typical ways manufacturer error can cause injury to auto accident victims include:
- Assembly errors
- Design flaws
- Lack of directions
- Lack of warning labels
- Malfunctioning pre-tensioners
- to name a few.
If you experienced pain or injury because of a seat belt you wore believing it would protect you, don’t suffer in silence. Your injuries might require a lengthy hospital stay or even surgery, which equates to thousands of dollars in medical expenses, more money lost from time spent recovering and away from work, and many more hidden costs associated with them.
Damage to internal organs or head trauma may have repercussions that last many years after the accident, or they may be permanent. The pain, bruising or side effects of injury to an internal organ, for instance, may not be present for days or a week after the accident, so it is vital to get a physician’s opinion of your physical condition following an auto accident.
Contacting Windsor ON Auto Accident Injury Lawyers
The risks can sometimes outweigh the rewards of seat belt use, and the law firm of Greg Monforton & Partners knows that serious injury can result from malfunctioning safety restraints.
Whether you or a loved one experienced physical or emotional pain and suffering from a defective seat belt or someone you loved was killed in an auto accident because of it, your rights deserve to be fought for and our Ontario auto accident litigators have the knowledge and experience to do just that.
With our office in Windsor, our firm proudly represents clients from the following areas:
- Amherstburg
- Birmingham
- Dearborn
- Leamington
- Livonia
- Warren
- and most other surrounding towns and areas.
To get started now, fill out the Free Case Evaluation form on this page or call (866) 320-4770