Founder and Managing Partner
Honda has had a few claims against it for defective or faulty seat belts. In one case, a woman drowned because she could not get her seat belt undone after a car accident. That case was reversed on appeal. In another recent case involving a seat belt, a jury awarded a woman who was paralyzed during a crash $37 million. Honda has vowed to appeal the decision. Now another case has been filed against Honda related to an issue with the vehicle’s rear center seat belt.
Class Action Lawsuit Alleges Deceptive Advertising
In the latest seat belt lawsuit against Honda, an owner of a 2018 Honda CR-V alleges that the company violated several laws, including the California Consumers Legal Remedies Act, False Advertising Act, and Unfair Competition Law. The gentleman purchased the 2018 Honda CR-V in 2017 with the intent of transporting three passengers in the back seat. He alleges that the company advertised seating for five passengers — the driver, a front seat passenger, and three passengers in the back seat. Each occupant was to be protected by a three-point seat belt installed at each seating position.
According to the lawsuit, the seat belts in the backseat are designed in such a way that only two passengers can safely buckle their seat belts at the same time. The passenger is required to pull a latch plate from the vehicle’s ceiling and attach the latch plate to the seat belt buckle to form a lap-shoulder seat belt configuration. However, the seat belt anchor for the driver’s side rear passenger makes it impossible to anchor the latch for the center passenger without crossing and twisting the seat belts. Therefore, the owner alleges it is impossible for both passengers to use a three-point seat belt system at the same time, even though Honda advertises the CR-V as a five-passenger vehicle with three-point seat belts for each seating position.
The gentleman who is listed as the plaintiff in the lawsuit seeks to represent a nationwide class of Honda CR-V owners and lessees of 2017 and 2018 Honda CR-Vs.
Product Liability and Personal Injury Laws
When you purchase a product, you expect the product to perform safely for its intended purpose. If a product does not perform correctly because of a defect, you may be entitled to compensation under a product liability lawsuit.
If a product causes an injury because it is defective, you may also be entitled to compensation for your injuries, losses, and damages. Filing a personal injury lawsuit under California’s product liability laws can be a complex undertaking. You must prove all the elements of a product liability lawsuit, including proving that the product’s defect was the proximate cause of your injury and you suffered damages because of the defective product.
However, if a plaintiff can establish fault and liability, that plaintiff may be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- Loss of income
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Disabilities and impairments
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Other financial losses and damages related to the accident and injury
Contact a California Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Case
If a product injured you or you believe you may be a member of a class action lawsuit, the first step is to consult with a California personal injury lawyer to discuss your claim. An attorney can review the circumstances of your case to evaluate whether you have a claim under product liability laws and/or personal injury laws. Contact us today for a free consultation.