Automobile Accident Lawyer Serving Tampa, FL, Explains the Case of Williamson v. Mazda Motor of America

An automobile accident lawyer at the law firm of Clark & Martino, P.A. in Tampa can assist you if you have been seriously injured in an auto accident. Perhaps the injuries you have sustained are the result of a defect in your automobile, in which case you may have a claim for damages against the automobile’s manufacturer. As you might expect, the number of potential auto defects is very high, and can include defective tires, defective brakes, and defective seat belts. Recently, in the case of Williamson v. Mazda Motor of America, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that auto accident victims are permitted to seek money damages in state court against manufacturers that install lap belts in their vehicles. As an automobile accident lawyer might explain it, state law claims aren’t “pre-empted” by federal regulations that allow the use of lap belts in certain passenger vehicles. 

This means that if you or another passenger in your vehicle was injured or even killed as a result of using a lap belt, the vehicle’s manufacturer can be held responsible. It has been estimated that more than 1 million vehicles in America still use lap belts, and despite the fact that lap belts are allowed by federal law, state tort law claims involving lap belts aren’t prohibited, either.

To learn more, contact an automobile accident lawyer at the Tampa law firm of Clark & Martino, P.A. Our partners are Florida board-certified and have the resources at their disposal to handle even the most complex auto accident and personal injury cases.