Ocean County Defective Child Car Seat Lawyers

Car Accident Attorneys Addressing Injuries from Defective Child Car Seats in Monmouth and Ocean County, New Jersey

Child car seats are a must to keep children safe while traveling. For children older than 6 months, car crashes are the top cause of death in the nation. Using a child seat is the most effective way of protecting children in a vehicle in the event of an accident. Defective car seats can cause unexpected injuries, even in the mildest of car accidents. A loose buckle or weak harness can cause a serious injury to a precious child.

If your child has been harmed due to a faulty car seat product or restraint system, do not hesitate to contact Chamlin, Uliano & Walsh to explore your legal options. Our experienced personal injury and product liability attorneys possess a wealth of knowledge about defective child car seat claims and provide excellent support for parents dealing with severe or fatal injuries caused by defective car seats. With decades of experience handling auto defects and product liability lawsuits in Neptune, Point Pleasant, Brick, Holmdel, Freehold, Spring Lake, and across Ocean and Monmouth County, we offer experienced guidance and representation. Reach out to our West Long Branch location by calling (732) 440-3950 to talk about your situation and explore potential avenues for compensation in a complimentary consultation.

Defective Child Car Seats Expose NJ Children to Severe Injuries

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there is an accident every 15 seconds in the U.S.  Car accidents are the number one cause of death for children older than six months nationwide. Using a defective car seat can cause additional injuries that can have dire consequences. From minor fender-benders to serious accidents, a defective car seat can be a threat to a child’s safety. They have the potential to allow a child to be jerked or pushed around the seat or even the vehicle. A defective seat could cause a child to be crushed, stuck, or even ejected from the car. Related injuries caused by faulty car seats are broken bones, spinal cord injuries, strangulation, hematomas, burns, crushed extremities, concussion, blunt force head trauma, skull fractures, internal bleeding, and wrongful death.

The following is an example of something that happens every day. A three-car accident occurred on the corner of Violet Street and Holland Avenue when a Black SUV driven by Marieta Valverde failed to yield to oncoming traffic in an attempt to make a left turn. Two other drivers were involved in the crash when the driver of a sedan swerved in an attempt to avoid the accident but collided with an oncoming car. Only minor injuries were suffered by the drivers and passengers, including 2 minors under the age of 2 and one child who was 6.

Recognizing and Addressing Child Car Seat Defects

Defective buckles and latches are dangerous defects. With a sharp step on the brake, a loose latch can unfasten, and the child can slip out. Sometimes, parents blame themselves for perhaps not having locked the buckle completely, but when it happens again and again, it is obvious that the car seat is defective. Similarly, an unexpected release of a restraint is another defect. Defective straps can loosen after some use and become unreliable to hold the child in place.

Insufficient padding to buffer the child’s head both front-to-back and side-to-side can cause severe injuries such as traumatic brain injuries and concussions, which could affect a child’s growth and development. If the base of the car seat is defective, either by design or because the materials used for the base are weak or brittle, the car seat could become detached from the base, allowing the portable part of the seat to become detached. Poor design can also be at fault when a car seat is defective. Manufacturers may use cheaper materials or cut corners in the construction of the car seat to save a few bucks, leaving consumers unaware of the potential dangers.

Legal Options in Light of Defective Child Car Seat Failures

Children riding in a defective car seat are at risk for serious injury. Parents can file a product liability claim against the manufacturer or anyone else in the chain of distribution. If the designer does not test the efficacy and safety of the car seat before sending it to the manufacturer, they can be held liable. If the manufacturer did not use the proper degree of care when making the seat, didn’t provide accurate instructions and warnings, or failed to recall a car seat that was known to be defective, and a child was injured as a result of the car seat’s defects, damages can be awarded to the affected party. If a business owner knowingly sold a defective car seat, ignoring a recall or manufacturer’s warnings, they can also be held liable.

Red Flags Indicating Potential Car Seat Defects in NJ

A car seat with visible damage or missing parts is a red flag. All car seats should have an expiration date and the manufacturer’s information on the bottom of the seat. Worn straps or buckles can provide less protection than required, leaving the child at risk of harm in even the most minor accident. The seat is probably defective if the harness doesn’t adjust properly to fit the child. Any loose parts, seat cracks, or chipped buckles are also signs of a defective car seat.

Reach Out to Our Freehold Defective Car Seat Lawyers for a Free Consultation Today

When you put your child in their car seat, you do it with the faith that they are safe from harm and protected in the case of an accident. You trust that the car seat designers, manufacturers, and retail distributors are giving you a product of the highest standards. The gut-wrenching experience of having a child injured in an accident is inexplicably difficult. Someone should be held responsible for those injuries and the trauma they cause.

Our product liability attorneys at Chamlin, Uliano & Walsh have successfully taken on manufacturers with positive results in Belmar, Manasquan, Tinton Falls, Shrewsbury, Colts Neck, and other towns across Monmouth County and Ocean County and the state of New Jersey. Our attorneys work with fervor and compassion to make sure you and your child obtain a settlement that is not only fair, but also serves as a reminder to those at fault that making and selling a defective product is a costly error. If you or someone you love has suffered injuries because of a defective car seat in New Jersey,  call (732) 440-3950 or fill out a contact form so that we may schedule a consultation.