Seatbelt Injuries in a Car Accident
Seatbelts inarguably save lives, responsible for an estimated 374,276 car accident survivors between 1975 and 2017. Proper seatbelt restraint prevents vehicle occupants from becoming projectiles or from being expelled from the car during a crash. Although they save lives, seatbelts also cause specific injuries to motorists during accidents, especially if they don’t function have design defects or fail to function appropriately. Although wearing a seatbelt significantly increases the chances of survival in a car accident, it’s important to be aware of the injuries seatbelts may cause during the collision. A
Understanding Crash Force and Seatbelt Accidents
The crash force of a collision in a car accident is powerful. When an accident occurs at 55 miles per hour, an average 120-pound person becomes a 6,600-pound force. According to accident researchers, there are three collisions in an accident, the car’s collision, the person’s collision with the seatbelt, and an internal collision within the body due to crash force. In an accident, a seatbelted motorist continues moving forward at the speed the car was traveling and then comes to an abrupt halt. The body propels forward against the seatbelt and then snaps back against the seat, putting tremendous stress on body structures even while saving the occupant’s life by preventing their expulsion from the vehicle through the windshield.
What Types of Injuries Do Seatbelts Cause in Accidents?
Car accident survivors sometimes experience serious serious injuries from seatbelts, despite their life-saving qualities. Common seatbelt-related injuries include the following:
- Broken clavicle (collarbone)
- Shoulder injury
- Broken ribs
- Whiplash and other neck injuries
- Lumbar back injury
- Thoracic and abdominal injuries
- Damage to the colon and other internal organs
- Spinal cord injuries
- Hip and pelvic injuries
- Bruises and abrasions
When car accident injuries occur due to seatbelts, the injury victim could recover compensation from the negligent party. Depending on the results of an investigation, one or more parties could share liability. For instance, a negligent driver who caused the accident and/or the vehicle manufacturer or seatbelt manufacturer if a design flaw or defect contributed to the injury.
What are the Symptoms of Seatbelt Injuries?
Some injuries after an accident are immediately identifiable as seatbelt injuries, such as shoulder injuries,seatbelt-shaped bruises, and fractures of the collarbone and ribs. In other cases, seatbelt injuries may not be immediately detectable, especially during the adrenaline rush after an accident.
Car accident victims should always seek medical treatment immediately after the accident and undergo a thorough evaluation. Symptoms of seatbelt injuries could include abdominal pain, neck pain or stiffness, tingling or numbness in the extremities, rib pain, difficulty breathing, coughing blood, vomiting blood, bowel changes, or bloody urine or stool.
Some car accident victims experience “seatbelt syndrome” or a collection of symptoms resulting from seatbelt injury, including abrasions from the belt, damage to muscles and tendons, arm or clavicle fracture, and internal injuries to the chest and/or abdomen.
Can I Recover Compensation for Seatbelt Injuries?
Insurance companies allow seatbelt injury claims as part of recoverable damages after a car accident. Depending on the severity of the injuries, a victim could recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and compensation for pain and suffering. Injuries that cause loss of organ function, loss of part of the intestines, severe fractures, or spinal cord damage result in substantial compensation for the injury victim’s life-altering injuries. Please speak with an experienced Oklahoma City car accident attorney if you are experiencing a seatbelt injury from a car accident.