Recall for Seatbelt Defects
On May 2, 2008, the Toyota Motor Company recalled 90,000 Highlander Sport Utility vehicles in the United States for seatbelt defects. This involves vehicles built between last May and March of 2008 to repair problems with the seatbelt that could leave rear-facing child seats unsecured. The Toyota Company ordered a “stop sale” of all 2008 Highlander SUVs and Hybrid versions with third row seats to retrofit changes to the seatbelt.
The Philadelphia personal injury law firm of Reiff and Bily has long investigated complaints by owners of Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, Toyota and Nissan motor vehicles and 15-passenger vans concerning defective seatbelt latch plates and defective seat and child seat design. These latch plates are designed to keep child safety seats securely in place by keeping a lapbelt tight around the safety seat. Often times, the latch plates do not connect firmly or loosen, no longer keeping the child seat firmly in place. This defect creates a safety hazard for children in the child seat because a loose seatbelt may permit the seat to move forward or to the side during a sudden stop or an accident. This hazard is usually hidden because the latch plate breaks and the spot is not visible unless the plate is turned over and inspected, and/or because it is difficult to tell that the latch plate broke in such a manner. In a proper crash worthy designed vehicle, seatbelts and other safety systems are supposed to minimize the destructive effect of forces by distributing these forces over the greatest period of time possible and over the largest surface area possible to the parts of the body that are most capable of withstanding the forces.
Many millions of cars in America have seatbelts with the release button on the front face of the buckle. In some collisions (i.e. rollover and/or side impacts), this release mechanism can be inertially disengaged when the back of the buckle hits the part of the seat structure or the human body. Most manufacturers do not like to admit the existence of this defect; however, during recent years, there have been many landmark cases against American and Japanese manufacturers for this defect. A properly designed seatbelt should restrain the occupant by stopping an ejection and decreasing the passenger’s movement within the vehicle during a crash. A seatbelt defect often results in death and/or serious injury.
The lawyers at Reiff and Bily have successfully recovered large settlements and verdicts for our clients in individual claims involving defective automotive design, defective SUV design, SUV rollover and other dangerous seatbelt designs. We have prosecuted these complex and challenging cases with a high level of skill and experience. We are supported by outstanding technical experts and excellent support staff. If you are injured or have lost a loved one by a poorly designed motor vehicle or a defective seatbelt, airbag, tire or other equipment, the manufacturer, designer and/or retailer are responsible for your loss. If you would like to contact our lawyers who have specific experience with auto defects to review your claims, please do so on a no-cost basis. All initial consultations are free and will provide you with effective information necessary to make a proper decision.
