Seat Belt Injuries
A seat belt is meant to protect motor vehicle occupants from serious injuries in automobile accidents. While seat belts achieve this goal, for the most part, they can also be the cause of certain injuries. As a car accident victim in California, an injury attorney in Los Angeles can help you recover financial compensation from the at-fault party for seat belt injuries.
What Is Seat Belt Syndrome?
Seat belt syndrome is a pattern of injuries that can arise due to the force of impact between a vehicle occupant’s body and a seat belt. These injuries can occur due to the extreme forces involved in a motor vehicle collision that push the occupant against the straps of the belt at high velocity.
Seat belt syndrome can include both internal and external injuries from contact with the safety belt, such as:
- Bruising and contusions
- Abrasions
- Soft-tissue injuries
- Chest and breastbone injuries
- Clavicle (collarbone) fractures
- Rib fractures
- Punctured lungs
- Organ damage
- Internal bleeding
Blood vessel injuries or punctures - Pelvis injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Permanent paralysis
If you notice trouble breathing or pain in your chest, abdomen or back after a car accident, seek immediate medical intervention for prompt injury diagnosis. You may have suffered one or more seat belt injuries in places where the belt restrained your body during an impact.
Risk Factors for Seat Belt Injuries in Automobile Accidents
It is important for a seat belt to always be in the correct position across the hips and chest – not across the stomach or behind the back. If a lap belt is positioned across the stomach instead of the pelvis, this increases the risk of abdominal injuries in a car crash, such as intestinal perforation and damage to the liver or spleen.
Children are more vulnerable to seat belt injuries than adults. This is why, in California, child safety seat laws require small children to be in car seats or booster seats until they are tall enough to be properly restrained by a seat belt. Finally, a vehicle traveling at a high speed increases the risk of seat belt injuries, as the force of the collision will be greater.
Can You Recover Compensation for Seat Belt Injuries After a Car Accident in California?
In California, the fault-based car insurance law holds the person or party at fault for an automobile accident financially responsible (liable) for all injuries caused by the crash. If a car accident victim sustains seat belt injuries, these can be included on a car accident insurance claim. A negligent driver may have to pay for these injuries through his or her car insurance policy.
If a seat belt injury occurs due to a product defect, such as seat belt failure due to a faulty latching mechanism, the injured victim may have grounds to file a product liability claim against the manufacturer. This type of claim seeks reimbursement for the victim’s losses from the manufacturer responsible for defective seat belt design, production or marketing.
When to Contact an Attorney in California
Determining liability for a seat belt injury in California can be difficult. You may be able to recover compensation from both the at-fault driver and a seat belt manufacturer, depending on the circumstances. Consult with a car accident attorney in Los Angeles right away for an in-depth discussion about your legal rights and options. An attorney will work hard to maximize your financial recovery for seat belt injuries.