How Long Does it Take to Settle a Seatbelt Failure Case?

The process of settling a seatbelt failure accident case may be anywhere from 3 months to 2 or more years. Clearly, there is a significant difference between these increments of time, so in reality, there is no way to predict how long it will take to recover the damages you are owed as an accident victim. The settlement timeline is based on issues that are common to all lawsuits, as well as details that are unique to each case. In this article, we will cover the most important of these issues, along with other topics that may be of interest to you.

We understand how anxious you are as you wait to put this painful chapter of your life behind you. It’s our goal to bring you compensation from an accident claim as soon as possible. However, it’s in the insurance company’s best interest to use stall tactics, make lowball settlement offers and essentially, delay payment for as long as possible. Our seatbelt failure lawsuit attorneys are experienced in overcoming these obstacles and ensuring that you receive maximum payment. Contact our legal team and schedule a free case review if you are a victim of injuries caused by seatbelt failure.

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Factors that Impact How Long It Takes to Settle a Seatbelt Failure Case

There are numerous facts that are involved when it comes to the settlement process for a seatbelt failure injury claim. The most common issues that affect how long it will take to settle your case are as follows:

Degree of injury: The extent of your injuries plays the most critical role when it comes to settling a seatbelt failure lawsuit. To put it simply, the more serious and debilitating your injuries, the longer it will probably take to settle the case. This is due to the increased settlement values that are associated with serious to severe injury claims. Based on the level of resistance by the insurance company, getting both sides to agree on the numbers can sometimes take over 2 years.

Liability: The party that’s responsible for the harm you suffered can extend the amount of time it takes to resolve a lawsuit for injuries caused by seatbelt failure. Many of these cases involve liability by multiple parties, and figuring out the percentage of liability by each defendant is a time consuming process.

Evidence: What evidence is available to support your claim has a direct impact on how much time it takes to settle a personal injury lawsuit. Evidence includes, but is not limited to: surveillance footage, police reports, physical evidence from the wreckage, witness accounts, and testimony from doctors, forensic accountants, and other professionals.

Case Value: The amount of damages you are seeking is a big factor in any lawsuit, particularly in car accidents where the victim may have a combination of physical and emotional injuries. Most of these cases are worth 6 figures, with some cases reaching the $3,000,000 mark. As we mentioned before, you can expect greater resistance from the insurance company when you are entitled to 6 or 7 figure payments. In the most extreme cases of bodily harm and mental health issues stemming from a car accident, injury victims may be entitled to damages that exceed $10,000,000.

Court delays: Around 95% of all failed seatbelt claims are settled out of court, so there’s very little chance that you will need to prepare for a trial. But yes, there are instances where continued resistance from the other side makes it necessary to ask for a trial date. If this were to happen, it can take one or more years before you appear in court due to scheduling conflicts and backlog of cases that are already on the docket.

As a final consideration, how much time it takes to settle a seatbelt defect lawsuit is based on the lawyer who is representing you. To maximize your chance of reaching a settlement as fast as possible for the highest amount, contact a law firm with a proven track record of auto accident settlements and verdicts.

Seatbelt Defects that Can Harm Drivers and Passengers

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, manufacturer recalls and customer complaints about seatbelts involve problems during the assembly process, like faulty assembly or installation. Common defects that cause seatbelts to fail when they are needed the most include:

• Failure with the seat belt latch or buckle
• False latching
• Unlatching due to inertia
• Defective seatbelt anchor
• Seat belt straps that are not strong enough
• Weak / defective seatbelt webbing, including ripped or torn webbing
• Seatbelt straps that wear out too quickly
• Spooling or retracting device failure
• Lack of shoulder belts
• Door-mounted seatbelts
• Incorrect placement of the seatbelt

Injuries Caused by Seatbelt Failure During a Car Crash

When there is a failure with a seatbelt, you are left without protection in the event of a crash that can cause severe injuries to many parts of your body. Injuries can also occur due to improper positioning of the belt or design flaws where the belt comes loose or twisted. These are all examples of seatbelt failure, and as a result, the user may end up with the following injuries:

• Seatbelt syndrome
• Traumatic brain injury
• Skull fracture
• Cracked sternum
• Broken ribs
• Internal bleeding
• Damage to the internal organs
• Soft tissue injuries
• Joint dislocation
• Deep lacerations
• Whiplash
• Perforation of the small intestines or colon
• Injures to the throat and thyroid
• Paralysis

Though some of these conditions are not as common as others, they are all possible injuries that can happen during a car accident due to a defective seatbelt. Please seek medical attention immediately, as some of these injuries are medical emergencies. Then, call our office and talk to a seatbelt failure attorney, who can advise you on the best way to move forward.

Why Should I Hire a Seatbelt Failure Accident Lawyer?

The attorneys of Normandie have decades of experience in complex motor vehicle accidents, including those involving seat belt failures and airbags that fail to deploy. If you were hurt in an accident because a seatbelt did not work as it should, here are some of the ways we can assist you:

• Investigating the accident and figuring out the cause of why the seatbelt failed
• Identifying which parties are responsible for your injuries (auto manufacturer, dealership, private settler, etc.)
• Obtaining the evidence and expert testimony for a legal case
• What monetary damages you can claim in a lawsuit, based on your harm and suffering
• Taking care of all communications with the other party’s insurance company
• Handling the negotiation process and ensuring that you obtain the highest possible settlement
• Trying your case in court if necessary
• Making sure that you are fully aware of what’s going on with your case and providing you with guidance whenever you have questions or concerns.

Free Second Opinion on Your Auto Accident Claim

Do you find yourself growing frustrated by the lack of time and attention from your attorney? Do you believe that your law firm is taking entirely too long to settle your claim? Or, maybe it seems like your lawyer isn’t experienced enough to handle the issues in your case.

Many people have these concerns when they are in the middle of an auto accident claim. With that in mind, our law firm is happy to provide you with a free second opinion on your case. To take advantage of this offer, simply contact our legal experts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Ultimately, we are here to answer your questions and provide honest answers regarding your legal options. We will never pressure you to change lawyers, which is not always the right course of action. But if allowing us to take over case is in your best interest, there’s no need to worry about firing your lawyer and asking for your case file. We will take care of every aspect of the transfer process free of charge, and get right to work on fighting for the compensation you deserve.

Contact Normandie Law Firm

Car accident cases involving defective seatbelts are incredibly challenging, and those who are affected should contact a seatbelt failure injury attorney right away.

Our main priority is to bring you the compensation you deserve from an auto accident claim. But we also believe in the concept of free legal services for those who are injured by someone else’s negligence. That’s why the Zero Fee Guarantee is there for you from start to finish, so you never pay out of pocket for the cost of legal fees. The cost of legal representation is paid by the party at fault, and only if we succeed in recovering your settlement.

For more information on the Zero Fee Guarantee and all the other ways we can help you, schedule a free consultation by contacting our law firm.

Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
My Seatbelt Unlatched during an Accident
Not Wearing Seatbelt in Uber / Lyft Car – Can I Sue for Injuries