Toyota under fire again for unsafe seatbelts.

Toyota has recently been under fire for allegations of destroying and refusing to produce damaging evidence in rollover cases, as alleged by an attorney that use to represent the car maker.  Now they are under the gun for making seatbelts that according to a new lawsuit, are not safe.

The Toyota Corolla is one of the top selling cars in the U.S. today, with sales over 350,000 cars last year. However, due to defective seatbelts and door latches, a product liability suit was filed in Orange County Superior Court last week.

California personal injury attorneys for Elias Chico allege that he suffered severe injuries during his head on collision. During the accident in his 2005 Toyota Corolla, Chico lost control of his car and crashed head-on into another vehicle. Even though he was wearing a seatbelt, he was ejected through the right door of his car.
Chico suffered several injuries including traumatic brain injury, fractured legs, bruised lungs, and a skull fracture. Due to his extensive injuries, he has been unable to work and has required successive operations and other medical treatment.

Lawyers for Chico claim that it would have cost Toyota only $100 per vehicle to provide safer seatbelts that would not tear on impact. Did Toyota compromise safety over profits?  A jury will likely give us their response in about a year.