Car Seat Injury Michigan

‍When Safety Fails Your Child

Parents do everything right.
They research the safest car seats, read every instruction, buckle their child in tight — all to protect the person who matters most. But when that safety device fails, the result is devastating.

A car seat isn’t supposed to cause harm. Yet across Michigan and the country, children suffer serious injuries — or worse — because of defective, poorly designed, or negligently manufactured car seats.

When a safety product built to save lives instead destroys them, the emotional toll is overwhelming. Parents are left with shock, guilt, anger, and heartbreak, asking how something so trusted could go so wrong.

At Marko Law, we fight for those families. Our Detroit-based trial firm represents parents whose children have been injured or killed due to defective car seats, failed harness systems, or corporate negligence. We take on the manufacturers, distributors, and corporations that put profit ahead of child safety — and we don’t back down.

Our record speaks for itself: multi-million-dollar verdicts for Michigan families, nationwide recognition for trial excellence, and an unflinching commitment to justice.
➡️ See our Verdicts.

If your child was hurt because a car seat didn’t work as it should, you’re not alone — and you have rights.

Understanding Car Seat Injury Cases

A car seat injury case arises when a child is hurt — or their injuries are made worse — because of a defective or faulty car seat. Under Michigan law, these cases typically fall under product liability, negligence, or breach of warranty.

Car seat injuries may involve:

• Defective latches, buckles, or harness systems that fail during a crash
• Poor design that can’t withstand normal impact
• Inadequate side-impact protection or substandard materials
• Confusing or incomplete instructions that lead to improper installation

These aren’t “accidents” — they’re failures. And when a manufacturer’s negligence puts children at risk, Michigan law allows parents to demand accountability.

Types of Car Seat Defects

Car seat cases generally involve three main categories of defects:

• Design Defects: When the car seat’s structure, materials, or configuration are inherently unsafe.
• Manufacturing Defects: When something goes wrong during production or assembly — a cracked buckle, weak strap, or faulty joint.
• Failure to Warn: When the manufacturer fails to provide clear instructions, warnings, or recall information.

You can read more about what legally constitutes a “defect” from Cornell Law School’s definition.

At Marko Law, our team works with engineering experts, product safety specialists, and medical professionals to prove exactly how a defective car seat caused your child’s injury — and who’s responsible for it.

Common Causes of Car Seat Injuries

Car seat injuries often come down to one word: preventable.

Every day, children are hurt not because of bad luck — but because corporations cut corners, skipped safety tests, or failed to pull dangerous seats from the market. Below are the most common causes we see in Michigan car seat injury claims:

• Defective latch or buckle mechanisms that fail to hold during a crash
• Faulty chest clips or harness systems that come loose or break under pressure
• Weak plastic shells that crack or shatter on impact
• Poor or unclear installation instructions, leading to improper use
• Expired or recalled car seats still being sold or used due to lack of manufacturer notice
• Car seat misuse linked to manufacturer error, not parent fault
• Counterfeit or unregulated car seats sold online without safety certification
• Improper compatibility between the seat and vehicle anchor systems
• Corporate negligence — when companies ignore internal warnings or conceal safety issues

Each of these failures represents more than a defective product — it’s a betrayal of trust. Parents rely on these devices to protect their children. When they fail, justice must follow.

At Marko Law, we’ve built our reputation on standing up to powerful corporations — from automotive giants to state agencies — and holding them accountable when their negligence harms Michigan families.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Michigan Car Seat Injury Case

When a child is hurt by a defective car seat, responsibility can extend beyond the company that made it. Michigan law allows families to pursue claims under both product liability and negligence principles, outlined in the Michigan Product Liability Act (MCL 600.2945).

Depending on the facts, one or more parties may be held liable, including:

• Car Seat Manufacturer: For unsafe design, poor materials, or failure to meet national safety standards.
• Retailer or Distributor: For selling defective, recalled, or expired seats to unsuspecting parents.
• Automaker: When the seat’s failure is linked to faulty anchor systems, seat belts, or vehicle design.
• Testing or Certification Agencies: If they falsely certified that a car seat met safety requirements.
• Daycare, Hospital, or Transport Services: When improper use or negligent installation contributed to the injury.

Every entity in the supply chain has a duty to protect children — and when they don’t, Marko Law steps in to hold them accountable. We dig deep, uncovering corporate documents, recall histories, and test data to expose the truth.

Michigan Car Seat Laws and Safety Regulations

Michigan law is clear: children must be properly secured in an approved safety seat — but even following the law doesn’t always guarantee protection.

Under Michigan’s Child Passenger Safety Law (MCL 257.710d):

• Children under 4 years old must ride in a federally approved child safety seat.
• Children under 8 years old, or under 4'9" in height, must use a booster seat.

While these laws aim to protect children, they don’t shield manufacturers from liability when a seat is defective or unsafe. Even if a parent follows every rule, the company that built or sold a faulty car seat can still be held legally responsible.

Parents should regularly check for recalls through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) database — but the burden shouldn’t be on consumers to catch corporate mistakes.

At Marko Law, we believe manufacturers owe parents more than warnings after the fact — they owe them safe products that work when it matters most.

Compensation Available for Car Seat Injury Cases

No amount of money can undo the pain of seeing your child hurt. But holding negligent companies accountable can help your family rebuild and secure your child’s future care. In Michigan, families may be entitled to compensation for:

• Medical Bills: Hospitalization, surgeries, therapy, rehabilitation, and future medical costs.
• Pain and Suffering: For the child’s physical pain and emotional trauma.
• Loss of Enjoyment of Life: When injuries limit a child’s ability to grow, play, or develop normally.
• Parent’s Lost Wages and Emotional Distress: When a parent must miss work or suffers psychological harm from the trauma.
• Punitive Damages: When a manufacturer’s actions were reckless, knowing, or intentional — see Cornell Law’s definition of punitive damages.

Under Michigan’s No-Fault Insurance Law, victims must often prove a “serious impairment of body function” to recover non-economic damages. This is where Marko Law excels — building airtight medical and expert evidence to demonstrate how a defective product changed a child’s life forever.

We’ve gone head-to-head with some of the largest insurers and corporations in the country — and won. Our verdicts speak for themselves, but what drives us is simple: protecting Michigan’s children and holding the powerful accountable.

What To Do If You Suspect a Car Seat Defect

If you believe a defective car seat caused or worsened your child’s injuries, what you do next is critical. Taking the right steps immediately can protect your legal rights and strengthen your case.

Here’s what to do:

1. Stop Using the Seat Immediately. Remove it from use and store it safely.
2. Preserve the Evidence. Do not throw away or repair the car seat, straps, or vehicle. These items are key pieces of evidence.
3. Document Everything. Take detailed photos of the car seat, the vehicle, and your child’s injuries.
4. Record Key Details. Note the seat’s serial number, model name, date of manufacture, and where it was purchased.
5. Report the Defect. File a report with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
6. Contact a Lawyer Before Speaking to Anyone Else. Never discuss the issue with the manufacturer or an insurance company before consulting an attorney. They often aim to limit liability or push low settlements.

Then, reach out to Marko Law. We’ll review your case for free, explain your rights, and fight to make sure your child’s suffering doesn’t go unanswered.

Protecting Michigan’s Children — One Case at a Time

Parents do everything right — buy the best seat, follow every rule, double-check every buckle. Yet time and again, corporations still fail them.

At Marko Law, we believe Michigan’s families deserve better. Our mission is simple but unwavering: to protect children, expose negligence, and hold powerful companies accountable.

We’ve taken on auto manufacturers, state agencies, and national corporations — and won. Not because it was easy, but because families like yours deserve justice, not excuses.

“At Marko Law, we make sure those responsible answer for every harm they’ve caused.”

If your child has been injured due to a defective car seat, don’t wait. Time limits apply to product liability claims in Michigan, and evidence must be preserved quickly to build a strong case.

Justice for your child starts with one call.

Contact Marko Law for a Free Case Evaluation

📞 Phone: +1-313-777-7777
📍 Main Office: 220 W. Congress, 4th Floor, Detroit, MI 48226
🌐 Website: www.markolaw.com