There is absolutely no reason to not believe studies claiming that the use of seat belts reduces the risk of death in a car accident by 45 percent. While seatbelts are supposed to protect the driver and passengers from harm in the event of a motor vehicle collision, sometimes they can cause more harm than good.
Seat belt injuries have become a widely discussed topic. Although seat belts are a key component of staying safe in a car crash, they can also cause life-threatening injuries. “In some cases, seat belts fail to do their job properly, and some of them are defective or faulty,” says our Allentown Seat Belt Injury Attorney at The Law Offices of Greg Prosmushkin, P.C. “Either way, if seat belts were responsible for causing or worsening your injury, you should not hesitate to contact a lawyer to recover damages.”
In fact, even if the seat belts saved your lives or helped minimize the severity of injury, you may still be eligible to seek compensation for any injuries and damages caused by the use of these seat belts, no matter how absurd it may sound.
The Dangers and Risks Associated with Seat Belts
Statistics indicate that a Car Accident occurs every 15 seconds in Pennsylvania and all across the U.S. A fatal Car Crash occurs every 13 minutes. Each year, thousands of Americans could have been saved through the proper use of seat belts. However, in some cases, it’s not the failure to wear seat belts that causes injury, it’s the use of seat belts that causes harm to drivers and passengers.
Don’t get us wrong. We are not trying to discourage you from wearing seat belts. All we want to say is that seat belts can cause injury, which is why you need to understand the potential risks associated with buckling up:
- Lap seat belts are more dangerous than shoulder seat belts, as the former often cause injuries to the spine
- Improper use of a seat belt can actually increase the risk of injury rather than reduce it
- The combination of the lap and diagonal seat belt can cause injuries to the sternum, abdomen, and ribs
- In about a third of all cases, if the driver or passenger has skin abrasions from the use of seat belts, these skin abrasions to the chest, neck, and abdomen may indicate internal damage or injury
What Are the Common Signs of Seat Belt Injury?
“Wait, so are there really injuries caused by the use of seat belts?” you may be wondering. “There are,” says our Experienced Car Accident Attorney in Allentown. The problem is that many times, people fail to recognize signs of a seat belt injury, which can include:
- Pain in the abdomen area (between the hips and ribs)
- The presence of blood in urine or stool, indicating internal damage caused by the use of seat belts
- Difficulty breaking, indicating damage to the lungs and/or heart
- Stiff neck, which could be a symptom of whiplash or spinal cord injury
- Weakness in the legs, indicating damage to the lower back, spinal cord, or abdomen
What Are the Most Common Seat Belt Injuries?
There are many safety issues and defects associated with the use of seat belts, including but not limited to latching issues, as well as sensor and retractor failure, which contribute to damage incurred as a result of a car accident. Some of the most common seat belt injuries are:
- Abrasions to the abdomen, neck, and chest
- Fractured bones
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Internal bleeding
- Cracked sternum or clavicles
- Damage to organs
- Fractured ribs
- Arterial injury
- Burst appendix
- Whiplash
- Soft-tissue damage (bruising, sprains, and strains)
- Brain Injury
- Paralysis
When seat belts malfunction or are defective, the victim may be able to hold the auto manufacturer or manufacturer of the seat belt responsible for the damages and losses incurred from the use of faulty or defective seat belts. Speak to our Allentown Seat Belt Injury Attorney to determine liable parties in your particular case. Let our lawyers from The Law Offices of Greg Prosmushkin, P.C., investigate the details of your case and help you seek the compensation you deserve. Call our offices at (215)-799-9990 for a Free Case Evaluation.