Seat Back Failure – Defective Seats

The personal injury attorneys at the Florida law firm of Murray Guari have been achieving exceptional results for victims of car seat back failures throughout the United States for more than 20 years. If you or someone you know has been in an auto accident involving defective seat failure, we can answer any questions you may have.

The automotive industry is tasked with designing automotive parts and feature that reduce injuries, not enhance or aggravate injuries. Unfortunately, many seating systems cause as many or more injuries then they prevent. Studies show that the auto industry was well aware of the need for properly designed seat backs as early as the 1960’s, yet did little to fix the problem or warn the public.

The two most common types of failure are the failure of the seat back support system to maintain an upright position and the deformation of the seat back frame itself. Less common are failures that have been attributed to deformation of the mounting system that holds the seat to the vehicle floor or to a collapse of the vehicle floor pan. Another problem is the detachment of non-integral head rests during an accident.

Cars equipped with bucket seats have a high risk for seat back failure, causing the seats to bend or collapse. Consequently, back seat passengers may suffer various physical injuries.

The Center of Auto Safety (CAS) reports that children are at great risk of being killed or seriously injured if struck by a collapsing front seat back in a rear-end crash and has petition for change. CAS recommends that parent place small children in rear seating positions behind an empty or unoccupied front seat.

Car seat back failures can cause ejection from a vehicle, which is one of the most injurious events that can happen to an occupant in a crash. Three out four people ejected from a vehicle will be fatally injured, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Even an accident occurring at a low or moderate speed may cause severe injuries to passengers. All auto accidents pose a threat for serious injuries, such as bone fracture, head injury, traumatic brain injury, internal organ damage, scarring and disfigurement, spinal cord injury – quadriplegia and even death.

To reduce your risk of seat back failure:

• Limit the amount of cargo your carry in your trunk and don’t carry it longer than necessary.
• Push the cargo as close to the back seat as possible and evenly distribute the load.
• Use cargo restraints (nets) to secure cargo (some auto manufacturers provide these).

If you or a loved one has been a victim of a seat back failure and would like to learn more about your legal rights,
please call our auto defect and roof crush attorneys or contact us here.