North County San Diego Injury Lawyers
We often read information about auto product recalls in Escondido that could result in serious injuries in a car accident, or information about child car seat safety. Yet it is not especially common to hear about a car that has been recalled for a safety defect related to child car seats. According to a recent article in Consumer Reports, that is precisely what is happening with a current BMW recall. The report indicates that “BMW of North America is recalling 32,760 vehicles from its 2015 to 2019 model years because the lower rear-seat anchor bars at the seat crease used to secure a child car seat may become damaged.” In other words, if a child is strapped into a car seat in one of these vehicles and a car crash happens, the vehicle may not properly hold the car seat. Accordingly, a child strapped into the car seat could sustain injuries that otherwise might have been prevented.
What follows is everything you need to know about the recall. If your child has already been injured because of a defective auto part, you should discuss your case with a car accident lawyer in Escondido.
Details of the Recall
The lower rear-seat anchor bar in the last four years of BMW models may not be safe for its intended use of securing child safety seats. As the article clarifies, “if the car seat is attached with ISOFIX-type rigid connectors, the damage may increase a child’s risk of injury in the event of a crash.” These defective bars are fixed, and they extend out from the car seat. The risk of injury in a motor vehicle crash is highest “when using a child seat with LATCH-type flexible-style connectors, which are on a vast majority of child seats used in the U.S.,” according to the article.
BMW has not reported any injuries resulting from the defect, yet injuries could occur if parents or guardians continue to use the defective auto part to secure a child’s safety seat. BMW will not begin notifying owners until January 17, 2020. Customers will be instructed to have their vehicles inspected by a BMW technician at no cost. If their vehicle has a loose anchor bar, the technician will repair it free of charge. The affected models include a number of BMW X6 SUVs built between May 2014 and May 2019, including:
- X6 sDrive35i;
- X6 xDrive35i;
- X6 xDrive50i; and
- X6M.
Parents May Still be Able to Use Car Seats in Defective BMWs
While more than 30,000 BMW models have been recalled due to a potential safety defect, the article indicates that parents and guardians can safely use child safety seats in these vehicles anyhow. To be clear, the Consumer Reports article is not suggesting that parents using the lower rear-seat anchor bars designed to secure a child safety seat. Rather, it explains that parents can use the seat belt in the car to strap in the child safety seat.
If you are unsure about whether your child’s safety seat is properly installed and secured to your vehicle, it is important to seek help.
Contact an Escondido Product Defect Lawyer
If you or someone you love sustained injuries because of an auto defect, an Escondido product defect attorney can assist you. Contact the Walton Law Firm today for more information about our services.
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