Seat Belts & Air Bags

Seat belt and air bag systems are critical components for occupant protection and safety during a motor vehicle collision.  They provide several useful and necessary functions, including:

Ridedown - extending (or softening) the impact and change in velocity over a greater time and distance for the occupants

Prevention of Partial or Full Ejection from the Vehicle

Distribution of Forces over a Larger Area & to the Stronger Parts of the Body

Prevention of Contact with the Vehicle Interior (steering wheel, windshield, instrument panel, doors or other occupants)

In many automobile crash cases, there are questions whether the seat belt and air bag system performed properly or according to design criteria.  In other accidents, there may be an issue raised as to whether a particular driver or passenger was wearing their seat belt.

An accident vehicle may contain an abundance of visible physical evidence that helps to analyze a variety of restraint system issues regarding use, nonuse, or performance.