Defective seat belt verdict in Mitsubishi SUV case
A verdict was reached in favor of a man who suffered fatal head injuries when he was partially ejected through the right rear window of the SUV in which he was a passenger.
According to reports, the driver lost control of the SUV. The SUV then rolled over. During the rollover sequence, the seat belt failed to restrain the man, and his head was ejected from the vehicle. He suffered fatal injuries as a result.
His parent and his estate sued the manufacturer of the SUV, alleging that the front passenger seat belt was defective, specifically because it was designed in a way that permitted it to extend too far in an accident.
The case was styled
Laliberte v. Mitsubishi Motors Corp.. It was tried in Palm Beach Co. Cir., No. 50 2005 CA 6369 AI, February 26, 2008.