While a majority of seat belt injuries that happen during a motor vehicle accident are minor, like bruising and abrasions, there are some instances where the seat belt can lead to serious injuries that require extended medical treatment, such as internal injuries and internal organ damage. With heavy medical treatment comes high medical expenses.
Learning more about how seat belt injuries happen, the most common types of injuries caused by seat belts, how you can prevent seat belt injuries, and what you should do if you’ve been injured by a seat belt in a car accident can help keep you safe.
As attorney Tommy Roebig puts it, “The personal injury attorneys at Florin|Roebig are here to help you file your seat belt injury claim, and we’ll help you through the legal process of getting the compensation you deserve. Seat belts are supposed to prevent injuries, not cause them. We’ll make the manufacturers pay for their negligence and get you a fair settlement.”
Why Do Seat Belt Injuries Occur?
More often than not, your seat belt will protect you in a car accident. Seat belts work by restraining you when your vehicle comes to a sudden stop, which is typically what happens in a motor vehicle collision. A seat belt sign and an alert tone should remind you to buckle up.
While seat belt use typically reduces the risk of more severe injuries in a car accident, it can also be the cause of injury to accident victims.
Whether you or your passengers get injured by a seat belt will depend on several factors, including:
- How quickly the vehicle was moving at the time of the collision
- Whether the seat belt functioned properly
- Where the seat belt was placed on the body
- Whether the seat belt had a manufacturer defect
- How severe the collision was
- Whether the seat belt was a lap belt or included a shoulder belt that went across the sternum
These factors can contribute to serious injury in a motor vehicle accident. For example, a seat belt that malfunctions may break upon impact and fail to restrain you or your passengers as intended, resulting in serious bodily injury. A high-speed collision may also lead to a seat belt injury due to the impact of the seat belt on your body. This can cause abdominal injuries, which may lead to the bruising of internal organs or other internal injuries.
The angle of impact tied with the force and how the belt is situated on your body can cause injuries like neck lacerations and spinal damage. Manufacturers should account for most possible situations when designing, testing, and installing seat belts, but that’s not always the case, often leading to serious injury for car riders and drivers.
Common Types Of Seat Belt Injuries
It’s common to have bruising or abrasions after an accident due to the seat belt’s restraint on your body. The severity of the car accident will often influence how serious these seat belt injuries can be.
Car accident injuries can vary depending on where the seat belt is located on the body. Seat belts that wrap around a person’s lap (lap belts) will likely cause injuries that are internal, such as a spinal cord or lumbar spine injury or an internal abdominal injury. Seat belts that go across the clavicle (shoulder belts) can cause neck injury, sternum injury, and neck and shoulder lacerations.
Common seat belt injuries include:
- Bruised or fractured ribs
- Sternum and chest injuries
- Neck injury due to whiplash
- Head injuries
- Soft tissue injuries to the abdomen, intestines, pancreas, etc.
- Torn shoulder muscles and tendons
- Abdominal wall injury
- Abrasions and lacerations
Vascular injuries are rare but can occur, especially if the shoulder belt sits too high on your body. When that happens, the belt can cause lacerations to the neck in addition to shoulder injuries. Some head contusions occur when your head strikes the steering wheel or dashboard. The seat belt is meant to work with the airbags, but manufacturer errors can cause the belt to malfunction and fail to restrain you correctly.
You can have “seat belt syndrome” due to your seat belt positioning during a car accident. This syndrome is when you have internal damage caused by the seat belt that is not apparent immediately after the crash. You may not have symptoms for several hours or days despite having severe intra-abdominal injuries. It’s important to go to the hospital for medical attention and diagnostic testing to check for internal bleeding and injuries following a car accident.
While normal shoulder belt restraint can cause chest pain post-accident, and lap belts can cause abdominal pain, getting an x-ray or CT scan can ensure that injuries are caught and treated quickly.
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How To Prevent Seat Belt Injuries
Ensuring that you and your passengers’ seat belts are properly placed and secured before driving can help prevent seat belt-related injuries in the event of a traffic accident. Practicing seat belt safety is in everyone’s best interest.
Of course, following all traffic laws and staying alert while driving can prevent many collisions, as can wearing a seat belt correctly.
The following are tips to keep in mind when strapping on your seat belt or someone else’s:
- Ensure the lap belt is set firmly across your hips and underneath your stomach.
- The shoulder belt should go across the center of your chest (sternum) and should not be right up against your neck.
- The seat belt should not be loose or tight; ensure a snug but comfortable fit.
Women who are pregnant should take extra precautions when it comes to seat belt usage. With the change in body shape, adjustments need to be made to wear a seat belt correctly.
Expectant mothers should follow these guidelines to avoid serious injury to themselves and their unborn child:
- Always wear both the lap and shoulder belts.
- Buckle the lap belt under your belly and over your hips, never directly over your belly.
- The shoulder strap should be placed between your breasts and to the side of your belly, never under your arm.
- The seat belt should fit snuggly without being too tight.
What Should I Do If I’ve Been Injured By A Seat Belt In An Auto Accident?
If you believe you incurred an injury due to your seat belt’s malfunctioning or defects, you may be able to pursue compensation through a product liability claim. The first step after an accident is to see a medical professional, even if you feel okay.
You can be checked out by a paramedic on scene, visit the ER or urgent care, or follow up with your primary care physician (PCP). Some states place time limits on the initial visit requirements, so it’s important to know your state’s laws regarding medical care after an auto accident.
Maintain injury documentation to track what injuries are discovered and when. This helps insurance companies and the courts understand your claim and ultimately determine a fair settlement. Any accident details, including pictures, videos, witness statements, expense receipts, and police reports, lend validity to your personal injury claim.
When you struggle to secure documentation, a law firm like Florin|Roebig can fill in the information using their investigative team. We know the laws that apply to your case, filing deadlines, fees, and the maximum compensation for your seat belt injuries. We’ll walk with you every step of the way, giving you peace of mind that you and your loved ones are taken care of in the future.
The Importance Of Having An Attorney For A Personal Injury Lawsuit
Any injury from an auto accident can be life-changing. When another driver is negligent, you shouldn’t bear the consequences of their poor choices. The same applies when manufacturers fail to provide safety measures for their auto products.
Manufacturing companies have legal representation when they’re sued over product failure. If you don’t have a qualified personal injury attorney on your side, you’re much more likely to lose your case or accept a payout that is far below what you deserve.
“This doesn’t happen because you’re undeserving of a larger payout. It happens because you try to DIY your way through a case that’s complex, and you get caught in the web of legal jargon and technical terms. Let Florin|Roebig be your secret weapon. We know the legal jargon and technical terms. More importantly, we know how the laws apply to your unique case,” explains F|R attorney Tommy Roebig.
To successfully argue your safety belt claim, you need to understand how the seat belt failed you and how that’s the manufacturer’s fault. Then, you need to clearly explain that to all other parties without claiming any responsibility for severe injuries. Florin|Roebig has state-of-the-art facilities for trying your case and creating visual aids to help accident victims secure a fair settlement.
There are two types of seat belt issues:
Injury As A Result Of An Insufficient Seat Belt
An insufficient seat belt means that the seat belt in your vehicle cannot protect you fully in the event of an auto accident. Several lawsuits have recently presented the issue of insufficient seat belts, with many of them being related to seat belts that only have lap belts installed. If your vehicle lacks a full seat belt (a lap belt and shoulder belt together), and you were injured by it during a motor vehicle accident, you may be able to seek compensation from the manufacturer.
Injury As A Result Of A Defective Seat Belt
A defective seat belt is one that does not perform as expected or promised in the event of a collision. This may mean that the seat belt did not properly restrain you, broke during the crash, or had another related defect that injured you or your passengers. A defective seat belt can result from an error during the manufacturing process, a design flaw, and many other things.
FAQs About Seat Belt Injuries From A Car Accident
How much compensation for a seat belt injury?
The compensation you’re eligible for and what you receive for a seat belt injury are numbers based on injury severity, proper seat belt use, and whether manufacturer liability can be proven. Speaking with an experienced car accident attorney will help you understand what the numbers look like for your case.
What is a seat belt injury after a crash?
A car accident seat belt injury is any injury caused by the seat belt in a collision. These can be external and visible, but they can also be internal and require X-rays or CT scans to diagnose.
How long does seat belt pain last after an accident?
The time you experience seat belt pain depends on how severe your injuries are, what medical treatments you receive, and other factors. Consult with a doctor to find out what you can expect, and speak with a car accident lawyer at Florin|Roebig to determine if you’re eligible for a settlement due to seat belt injury.
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How To Get Help From Florin|Roebig On Filing A Personal Injury Lawsuit
If your injury can be directly attributed to a seat belt defect or malfunction, contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. The trusted and experienced attorneys at Florin|Roebig can help you determine if it’s worth pursuing a lawsuit. Many on our legal team are board-certified, and our legal assistance is available 24/7.
Personal injury and product liability cases can be overwhelming and complex, so it’s important to work with an attorney you can truly rely on. If you’d like to speak with a personal injury attorney or get a free consultation, contact us today, and we’d be happy to help.
Florin|Roebig offices are located in Florida, Minnesota, Texas, and Colorado. You can contact us through our online chat, fill out a form on our website, or call us at the phone numbers listed on our contact page.
