Kansas City Seat Defects Attorney

Although not often thought of as a safety feature, seats play an important role in protecting vehicle occupants in the event of a crash.  Unfortunately there are several types of seat defects which can cause enhanced injury to vehicle occupants in a crash.

Seat Back Collapse

In any collision, occupants move toward the force being exerted on the vehicle.  When a vehicle is struck from the rear, the occupants naturally move rearward and into the backs of their seats.  Unfortunately, many vehicle seat backs are defective and are not strong enough to withstand the forces generated by the occupant pressing back into the seat during a rear impact.  The seat is overcome by the force of the occupant moving rearward and the seat back bends or breaks backwards into a reclined position.  As a result, the front seat occupants can be ejected from their seat (and in some cases the vehicle) despite properly wearing their seat belt.

As a result of seat back collapse, front seat occupants are at risk for severe injuries, including head injury, paralysis and death, if the vehicle is involved in any type of rear impact.  But front seat passengers are not the only ones at risk from this sinister defect.  When the front seat back collapses, it collapses into whatever or whomever is behind it.  Unfortunately, children are often the second row occupants and many have been needlessly injured or killed when the front seat (or front seat occupant) slams into them.

Reclined Seat

Many vehicle seats are designed so that the occupant can recline them while the vehicle is in operation.  Reclined seats compromise the ability of the seat belt system to properly restrain the occupant in the event of a crash.  If an occupant has the seat reclined during a collision, serious personal injury or death can result.

Inadequate Head Rest

The seat head rest plays an important part in protecting occupants during a crash by supporting the head, neck and shoulders.  Seats which lack adequate head rests, or any head rests at all, can cause enhanced injuries, particularly cervical injuries, beyond those which would ordinarily be suffered in a crash.

Broken Seat

In some crashes, the seats themselves may come loose or detach from the vehicle floor.  A freely sliding seat after a crash may also be indicative of a seat defect.  If either circumstance exists, the potential for a seat defect case should be considered.