Arizona Seatbelt Issue Lawyers
Attorney Representation in Phoenix, Arizona Since 1996
Seatbelt Issues
Often, when you hear about an injured victim being ejected from a vehicle, it is assumed that he or she was not wearing a seatbelt. While this could be true in many cases, there have been numerous instances where a vehicle occupant was ejected due to a seat restraint system failure or a defective seatbelt. If you suspect seatbelt failure in an injury crash or deadly car collision, please contact an experienced Phoenix fatal car accident lawyer to find out if you have a valid claim.
Arizona Seatbelt Laws
Under Arizona Statute 28-909, every front seat occupant of a motor vehicle must where a lap and shoulder belt restraint. Additionally, all passengers in Arizona under the age of 16 must wear his or her seatbelt and it is the driver's responsibility to ensure that seatbelts are worn. All children under 5 years of age must be properly secured in a child safety seat. Violation of Arizona seatbelt law is a secondary offense. This means that an officer cannot technically pull you over solely for not buckling up, but you can be fined for not wearing one if you are pulled over for another violation.
Arizona Seatbelt Car Accident Statistics
All statistics involving seatbelt use overwhelmingly show that seatbelts save lives on a daily basis. The statistics prove that occupants of vehicles who wear safety devices have a better chance of avoiding an injury. The Arizona Department of Transportation reported that in 2009:
- 89.89 percent of children under 5 years of age who were utilizing a safety device were not injured.
- 80.07 percent of drivers who were not injured in an Arizona car accident were using a safety device
- 84.78 percent of passengers who were not injured in an Arizona crash were wearing a seatbelt.
- Two children under 5 years of age, 207 drivers and 114 passengers were killed in Arizona car accidents while not using a safety belt.
- Of the 5,197 Arizona accidents involving a seatbelt not being used, 67.21 percent of non-users were male and 28.69 percent were female
Defective Seatbelts
It is common to read in an Arizona car accident report that the police suspect the victim was not wearing a seatbelt. It's a reasonable assumption to make that someone who is ejected from a vehicle was not wearing a seatbelt. It is not, however, always the truth. Some defective seatbelts fail to buckle properly or fray and tear in a violent crash. Investigators can examine the vehicle to prove that the injured victim was using the safety device and it failed to work properly. In such cases, the auto maker or the manufacturer of the defective seatbelt could be held liable.
The statistics prove that your chances of surviving a serious car crash are much higher if you are wearing a seatbelt. There are circumstances, however, when seatbelts fail to properly protect the occupants of the vehicle involved in a serious Arizona accident. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a car accident because of a defective seatbelt, please contact the experienced Phoenix auto product liability lawyers of The Breyer Law Offices, P.C. to obtain more information about pursuing your legal rights. We have the resources and access to nationally renowned accident reconstruction experts, who will help conduct a thorough investigation in order to determine the facts and bolster your claim. Call us today to find out how we can help you.
