Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Seat Belt Repair

Seat belts may seem traditional vehicle security, yet it’s one of the most crucial safety features in your vehicle you couldn’t afford to lose. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), over 15,000 lives are saved every year in the US because drivers and passengers were wearing their seat belts.

Not wearing seatbelts puts drivers and passengers at a higher risk of sustaining major injuries and fatalities. In fact, there is no situation when you shouldn’t wear one; even pregnant women must wear their seatbelts in the car at all times. 

How Seat Belts Work

What happens when you aren’t wearing your seatbelt and you got into a crash? You will likely smack into the steering wheel, dash, or windshield and sustain injuries. If your vehicle has an airbag, it will also deploy at maximum speed to try and catch your body. 

But what happens when you have your seatbelt on and you got into a crash? Usually, you can lean forward, but if you move the belt fast, a tensioner will lock the belt to keep it from being extended. Newer models activate a pretensioner when a collision is imminent. Pretensioners use gas cylinders to lock the belt mechanism. 

When force is applied, seat belts can slow you down, which will help reduce your body’s peak force. Modern seat belts also come with load limiters, which release belt tension slightly under heavy loads. 

Seat Belt Syndrome

Even if you don’t sustain injuries during a crash, it’s still important to have yourself assessed in the hospital. You could experience seat belt syndrome, especially if there’s been such strong force. 

Keep in mind that when seat belts are more focused on the abdomen, it can cause internal damage. Usually, it would take 2-3 days for symptoms to occur, which is why it’s vital you get yourself checked immediately even if you feel fine. 

On the other hand, for minor accidents, the force of the seat belt can cause skin abrasions that may need medical care to prevent infections. 

Seat Belt Repair

After a crash, your seat belts may need repair. This is because the belt and retention mechanism have been stretched. In this case, the belt webbing will be replaced along with some parts of the tensioner mechanism. 

You shouldn’t DIY this because this is a job for professionals. Moreover, a technician will also be able to identify other issues with the body and frame that can hinder the belt from working properly should you get into a crash again. 

Get Quality Seat Belt Repair

Now that you know how important seat belts are and how they work, you need to have your seat belts checked and repaired if you got into a crash. It’s essential you find a reputable company that provides excellent seat belt repair services to ensure that this safety feature in your car will be working well should you get into another crash. 

Seat belt repairs aren’t only for when you got yourself into an accident. There are instances when seat belts need to be repaired or replaced due to age. Therefore, always check if your seatbelts are working fine and bring them to a professional if you find issues with them. 

Here at Repair My SRS, we fix seat belts after collisions in Westfield. You can guarantee the best results here with us. Contact us today!