Defective Desinging can be Deadly!

The World Health Organization released a report in April 2007. Some of the more interesting but troubling findings from the WHO report and United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention note that fatal auto accidents are the leading cause of accidents between ages 10 and 24 worldwide.

Car accidents can have serious effects on individuals involved. Persons who have been in an accident may suffer pain, injuries, and may be forced to seek medical treatment. In some cases, injuries may be so severe that people may have to deal with lasting pain and disabilities as a result of their injuries. In order to prevent such lasting damage, vehicle manufacturers have worked hard to improve vehicle safety systems including airbags, crumple-zones, and seatbelts.

Unfortunately, defective safety systems can lead to serious injuries including seatbelt failure and other problems. If a person's seatbelt fails to function in the intended manner, he or she may suffer more severe injuries than individuals with properly-functioning seat-belts.

One of the most common causes of seat-belt related injuries is design failure on the part of vehicle manufacturers. In recent years, issues regarding the placement or design of seatbelts have led some manufacturers to change their plans and incorporate different systems in their vehicles. Some commonly reported defects include:

· Problems with lap-belt only seatbelt designs

· Issues with shoulder-belt only designs

· Defective seat-belt geometry

· Faulty latching mechanisms

In order for a seat-belt to work correctly, the design must allow for certain types of movement, while restricting harmful motion in the event of a collision. Certain designs actually may prove to cause more harm than good, as is the case with rear "lap belt only" designs that can increase the severity of injuries to the individuals in the back seat.

Defective seat-belt design can lead to injuries that include internal bleeding, back and spine injuries, head-and-neck trauma, broken bones, and other health problems.

Most modern vehicles are designed to withstand impacts of a certain force, and to provide protection to drivers and passengers. Seat belts, 'crumple zones', collapsible steering wheels, airbags, roll bars - all these and similar devices are designed to give personal protection in an accident. Unfortunately, not all vehicles on are equipped with these modern design benefits, and many provide little or no protection at all.