Defective Car Seat Attorney

John T. Flood is an attorney in Texas who focuses on defective car seat cases. Call (361) 654-8877 today to get compensation for your injury caused by a faulty car seat.

When child safety seats fail due to design flaws or manufacturing defects, children’s lives are put at risk and parents’ trust is betrayed. No parent should have to gamble on their child’s safety because car seat manufacturers skimped on safety measures and produced a defective car seat.

Types of Child Safety Seats

Child safety seats are among the most important purchases a parent can make. In fact, all 50 states have their own laws requiring the use of child safety seats when traveling in vehicles. Unfortunately, when car seats or booster seats are defective in design or manufacture, children are put at risk for serious injury or death in even a minor car accident. Until a child reaches the legally mandated age, weight, or height required to travel without a safety seat, parents must use them. Children graduate from each stage of safety seat until they no longer require one.

Rear-facing Safety Seat

New parents brings their infants home from the hospital in their first car seat, an infant, rear-facing car seat. Infants and toddlers should be restrained in rear-facing seats until they grow out of them by exceeding the height and age requirements set by the manufacturer.

Forward-facing Safety Seat

Forward-facing safety seats are most commonly thought of when people hear the term child safety seat. These seats mimic a car seat but face forward. Toddlers and children up to age five should be restrained in forward-facing seats until they surpass the height and age requirements set by the manufacturer and/or until they are old enough per state law.

Booster Seats

Booster seats are generally the last safety seat a child will use. Children who have outgrown forward-facing seats should use boosters to properly position the seatbelt. Boosters serve to raise the height of the child so the seatbelt will be effective in securing the child in the event of an accident.

Common Car Seat Defects

While the intended purpose of car seats is to protect the child, defects can hinder the effectiveness of every model. Baby product manufacturers have increased scrutiny over the design and manufacturing of their products due to the vulnerable demographic they serve. Parents choose products based on reputation and trust that child safety is kept in mind at all phases of the product lifecycle. Defects can take form in various ways, all equally dangerous to a child if a defective car seat reaches the hands of parents.

Faulty Latches or Buckles

A child safety seat’s latches and buckles are integral parts of the product design. When latches or buckles provide too much slack or become locked, the child is at risk of either being ejected from the car seat or becoming trapped in it should they need to be rescued in the event of an accident.

Faulty Adjusters

Similar to adjusters on a backpack, child safety seat adjusters allow for the straps to be moved and secured at given lengths. Faulty adjusters can become locked, unexpectedly loosen, and/or dangerously restrain children in seats after a crash.

Inefficient Framing

A car seat becomes ineffective if the frame is made of weak materials or poorly designed. Similar to the framing of a car that is meant to protect passengers, child safety seat frames aim to protect the child and secure them in place. Inefficient framing places the child in harm’s way and negates the intended purpose of a safety seat.

Flammable Materials

The materials used to construct a child safety seat are just as important as its design. Child safety seats that are constructed with flammable materials can cause further injury or death in the event of an accident. A child safety seat that is made of flammable materials could potentially erupt in flames in the event of an accident.

Texas Car Seat Attorneys

Parents have enough to worry about when it comes to protecting and raising their children. The pain of betrayal is felt tenfold by parents whose children are victims of defective products. No parent should ever have to feel guilty for unknowingly putting their child in harm’s way due to senseless defects.

Were you or a loved one injured by a defective child safety seat? Call attorney John Flood at (361) 654-8877 today for a free initial case evaluation.  

Frequently Asked Questions About Defective Car Seats

How can I tell if my child’s car seat is defective?

One way to find out if your child’s car seat is defective is to search for recalls. You can find a comprehensive list of car seat recalls here. If you are in an accident and your child’s car seat malfunctions in some way, then you should contact a lawyer about a defective car seat claim.

What are examples of car seat defects?

• Defective buckles that break, unlatch, or allow your child to unbuckle them.
• Chest clips or harness straps that break or unlatch.
• Defective carry handles that release unexpectedly.
• Inadequate safety padding that allows head injuries to occur.
• Defective base units that allow the seat to disconnect on impact.
• Inadequate installation instructions.

Who is liable for a defective car seat injury?

Anyone in the product’s chain of manufacture and distribution can be held responsible for a defective car seat. Those parties may include the:

• Manufacturer of the car seat
• Manufacturer of the defective part
• Assembling manufacturer
• Wholesaler
• Retailer

Depending on the facts of your case and what an investigation reveals, you may have the right to file a lawsuit against many of the above parties.

What is a defective car seat case worth?

There’s no way to know for sure how much you may be able to receive in compensation in a defective car seat case without speaking to a lawyer. An experienced lawyer will evaluate your claims and give you a general idea of the financial amount you may be able to recover.

What should I do if my child was injured by a faulty car seat?

Call John Flood Trial Lawyers right away. The sooner you file a lawsuit, the fresher the incident will be in your mind. There are statutes of limitations for filing defective car seat lawsuits that vary by state. We will help you file your claim within the required timeframe.