Under normal circumstances, car seat backs exist to support and protect occupants during accidents. However, defective car seat backs can cause severe injury if they fail during an accident. Very often, these injuries could have been avoided if the manufacturer had a better design or used better materials for seat backs. If you have injuries from a defective car seat back after an accident, you can talk to a personal injury attorney about options for financial compensation.
How Do Car Seat Backs Fail?
Car seat backs primarily fail due to defects in their design or materials. For instance, a defect during the manufacturing process could weaken the materials in the seat frame, causing them to fail during an accident or during normal operation. Similarly, car seat backs can be defective if the vehicle manufacturer built or installed them incorrectly.
These failures can contribute to serious injury. For example, a defective seat back can fall down, causing injury to passengers in the back seat. Seat backs can also trap passengers if they collapse, get stuck, and block the cabin exits after an accident. Lastly, defective seat headrests can cause injury if they do not have sufficient padding.
Defective seat backs are particularly dangerous during rear-end accidents. Force during rear-end accidents is directed at car seat backs, making it more likely that defective models will fail. A defective car seat back can turn a minor rear-end fender bender into a serious accident that causes lasting injuries.
Injuries From a Defective Car Seat Back
Below are some possible injuries that a defective car seat back can cause:
- Whiplash and neck injuries
- Bruising and soft-tissue injuries
- Herniated or slipped discs
- Spinal cord compressions
- Torso and chest injuries
- Broken bones
- Cuts and lacerations
- Internal injuries
- Crushing injuries
- Amputations
Options for Compensation After a Car Seat Back Injury
Below are some of the most common options for recovering financial compensation after sustaining an injury from a defective car seat back.
Product Liability Lawsuit
For injuries due to defective car seat backs, you may be able to file a product liability lawsuit against the car seat manufacturer. Manufacturers in Pennsylvania are strictly liable when their defective or dangerous products cause injury, which means you don’t have to prove the manufacturer’s negligence to recover compensation. Car seat backs can be defective due to imperfections in the manufacturing process or due to an inherently dangerous design. You have two years to file a product liability lawsuit against the manufacturer.
No-Fault Accident Insurance
If you have car seat back injuries after an accident, you can use your no-fault coverage to pay for injuries. Pennsylvania has a no-fault insurance system under which drivers first file a claim with their own insurance companies after an accident. PIP coverage on your auto policy will cover the medical costs of injuries and lost work income up to your policy’s limits.
Motor Vehicle Accident Claim
If you have full tort coverage in Pennsylvania and the accident was the fault of another driver, you can file a motor vehicle accident claim against the at-fault driver. With such a claim, you can recover a wider range of compensation than with a no-fault claim, including compensation for pain and suffering.
Contact a Pennsylvania Personal Injury Attorney Today
Injuries from a defective car seat back can drastically impact your life, leading to extreme stress and emotional turmoil. You deserve an attorney who will stand up for your rights and fight for the compensation you need. Ainsman Levine, LLC, proudly supports car accident victims in Pennsylvania and will do everything in our power to make you whole again.
Contact our offices online or call today for a free, no-obligation case consultation with a personal injury attorney in Pennsylvania.
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