What Georgia parents need to know about defective car seats could make a difference in keeping their children safe. Defective car seats are more common than many parents realize, and they can cause serious injuries even when used correctly.
Here is more about how defects happen, warning signs to look for, and how your car accident claim may include compensation for child injuries caused by faulty safety products. Reach out to our defective products attorney in Newnan to learn more.
Parents Need to Know the Signs That a Car Seat May Be Unsafe
A car seat does not need to be visibly broken to be dangerous. Subtle performance issues may signal a larger design or manufacturing defect. Parents should inspect every car seat regularly and know what to look for when something feels off. Warning signs of a potentially defective or unsafe car seat include:
- Harness is loose or difficult to tighten
- Buckle comes undone too easily
- Seat shifts out of place during braking
- Base does not lock securely
- Visible cracks in plastic housing
- Straps show fraying or stitching problems
- Seat was purchased from an unknown third-party site
- Product has been recalled in the past
- Warning label or installation manual is missing
If you notice any of these problems, stop using the car seat immediately and contact the manufacturer. You can also check online databases to see if the product has been recalled or flagged for safety issues. Georgia Code § 40-8-76 describes how child restraint systems must be used, but it is just as important to make sure the product itself is safe and working properly. If a defect caused harm to your child, a personal injury claim may help you recover your costs and hold the manufacturer accountable.
Parents Need to Know How Car Seat Defects Happen and Why They Are So Dangerous
Defective car seats put children at serious risk, even when parents do everything right. Some recalls involve car seats that break apart during a crash, while others contain parts that never worked correctly from the beginning. These failures can lead to severe injuries in accidents that would have otherwise been survivable.
Common Types of Car Seat Defects That Lead to Injuries
Some of the most common issues come from manufacturing defects like faulty latches, weak harnesses, or unstable bases. In other cases, the problem is with the design itself. If a seat is not properly engineered or tested for side-impact collisions, it may not protect your child as designed. Some models have been recalled for using flammable materials or straps that detach under pressure.
Federal law requires car seat makers to meet certain safety standards, but that does not mean every product on the market is safe. Older car seats also pose a danger, even if they were never recalled. Safety standards have changed, and seats that were approved years ago may no longer meet current requirements.
Many outdated models lack basic features like side-impact protection or updated anchor systems. Under 49 U.S. Code § 30120, manufacturers are responsible for correcting or replacing defective products, but not every family knows when a recall is issued.
Injuries Can Even Happen in Low-Speed Collisions
When a defective car seat fails in a crash, the injuries can be immediate and severe. Skull fractures, spinal cord injuries, and internal bleeding are all possible, even at speeds under 30 miles per hour. A dislocated joint or bruised lung may not show symptoms right away, especially in younger children.
Any car seat failure should be taken seriously, particularly if your child may have suffered a catastrophic injury that will require long-term care. Reach out to our catastrophic injury attorney in Newnan if your child has sustained an injury due to a defective car seat.