Car seats play a consequential role in protecting children in vehicles, but when a car seat fails during a crash, it can lead to devastating injuries. In such cases, the question arises: Can the car seat’s manufacturer be held liable?
The answer to this question is generally yes, under certain circumstances, car seat manufacturers can be sued if their product is found to be defective or fails to meet safety standards and harm results from that defect or failure.
When manufacturers can be held liable for harm
To hold a car seat manufacturer liable for harm in the wake of a crash, it must be demonstrated that the car seat at issue featured a defect – which may or may not have been subject to a recall at the time of the incident in question – that contributed to injuries sustained during the crash. Common types of defects include:
- Design Defects: These occur when the inherent design of a car seat is unsafe, even if it was manufactured correctly. For example, a poorly designed harness system that fails to restrain a child during an impact may constitute a design defect.
- Manufacturing Defects: A car seat may have been designed properly but manufactured with flaws, such as weak plastic, faulty latches or improperly assembled parts. These defects can make a car seat fail during normal use or a collision.
- Failure to Warn or Inadequate Instructions: If a manufacturer fails to provide clear instructions for proper installation or use, or does not warn about specific risks, they may be held liable if harm occurs as a result.
To successfully sue a car seat manufacturer for a defect that has caused harm, several legal elements must generally be proven. They include:
- Defect Causation: A defect in a car seat directly caused or contributed to a child’s injuries.
- Proper Use: A car seat was used as intended, following the manufacturer’s instructions. If the car seat was not properly installed or used incorrectly, the manufacturer may argue that the misuse absolves them of liability.
- Damages: Documented injuries, medical expenses and other losses must be demonstrated to support a compensation claim.
Proving liability in a crash scenario isn’t always easy. Thankfully, if your child has been harmed as a result of a defective car seat, you don’t have to navigate this challenge alone. Seeking personalized legal guidance and support is always an option.