The use of seat belts by most Americans has decreased the number of fatalities caused by car accidents significantly. In most cases, people involved in car accidents who are not wearing seat belts suffer more serious injuries than others. However, even drivers and passengers who are wearing seat belts can suffer severe injuries. In some cases, the seat belts themselves cause devastating injuries. In other cases, the seat belts are defective. When the seat belt fails to work properly, the victim can face severe injuries that could have been prevented had the seat belt worked correctly.
Seat Belt Injury CausesSeat belts can cause serious injuries in all types of car accidents. Even if you were in a mild-to-moderate car accident, the seatbelt could still cause internal organ damage, broken bones, joint dislocation, and fractures. In severe cases, seat belts can cause spinal column damage, intestinal injuries, and internal bleeding.
What Happens During a Car AccidentDuring a car accident, the components of the seat belt should communicate with the automobile’s airbag system. The airbag system should be deployed when the front bumper sensors are impacted. When one or more of this component is not working properly, the airbags can fail to deploy correctly. In some cases, the airbags failed to deploy at all. In other circumstances, the airbags deploy in a delayed manner, causing the victim serious injuries.
Bowel Injuries Caused by Car AccidentsThe force of a seat belt against a person's abdominal region can cause bowel problems. Unfortunately, these types of injuries can be challenging to diagnose properly. We recommend receiving a full medical evaluation if you have been in a car accident. A skilled medical doctor will be able to look for signs of seat belt injuries, such as the following:
Seat belts are intended to assist with rider safety and to minimize injuries among car accident victims. When car accident victims are correctly wearing their seatbelts during an accident, Studies have shown they will have shortened hospital stays and require fewer operations. Passengers and drivers who wear their seat belts are less likely to have severe internal injuries than unbelted passengers and drivers.
There are certain types of injuries caused by seat belts, however. Doctors and researchers have coined the term ‘seat belt syndrome’ to refer to a unique collection of injuries caused by seat belts. They have found that diagnosing seat belt syndrome quickly can be challenging. Sometimes, passengers and drivers do not show signs of internal injuries or bowel injuries. Sometimes the signs of peritonitis only become obvious after a few days.
Emergency room doctors should look for abdominal wall ecchymosis, which increases the likelihood of intra-abdominal injuries significantly. When doctors do not quickly diagnose seat belt syndrome, the results may be devastating. Suppose you have suffered seat belt syndrome injuries due to a car accident, and your doctor failed to properly treat your injuries or diagnose them quickly enough. In that case, you may be entitled to compensation. It is wise to contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your case.
Seatbelt Injuries Among ChildrenUnder North Carolina law, children and infants must be strapped into the proper type of car seat while driving. Unfortunately, sometimes these car seats are defectively manufactured. When car seats are defective, the life of your child or infant may be in jeopardy. In other cases, parents or caretakers do not properly strap their children into the car seat and adjust the straps’ lengths. If your child has become injured due to seatbelt injuries from their car seat, you may be entitled to compensation. It is worth looking into and consulting with an experienced car accident lawyer.
Contact a Charlotte Car Accident Lawyer TodayHave you experienced seat belt injuries in a Charlotte car accident? If so, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Under North Carolina law, the at-fault driver is responsible for providing the injured victim with financial compensation. As a car accident victim, you have the right to file a claim for compensation through the at-fault driver’s insurance policy.
The experienced car accident lawyers at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, have a proven track record of negotiating aggressively with insurance companies to obtain the full amount of compensation our clients deserve. When necessary, we will bring a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver. Contact us today at 704-370-2828 to schedule your free initial consultation.