Did Your Safety Belt Injure You in a Crash?
It’s a known fact that seatbelts save peoples’ lives. But most people have no idea that seat belts also cause serious injuries. Everything from fractures, to bone dislocations, to spinal column and internal injuries – all can be the direct result of a seatbelt accident. In truth, every manmade device has the potential to cause serious injuries. This includes seatbelts, even though they are mandated to be worn by every passenger in a vehicle in our state. The seatbelt grabs and tightens across the body and places stress on the person’s abdomen, chest, internal organs and bones. This has the potential to cause a very damaging seatbelt injury.
Have you or a loved one suffered a serious life-changing seatbelt accident? Did you lose someone you love to this kind of accident? Are you dealing with horrendous medical bills? And rightly scared for your future?
Let Premier Law Group help!
Our experienced Seattle personal injury attorneys will conduct a full investigation into the design and manufacturing of the seatbelts that caused your injuries. We will determine fault and get you and your family the accident compensation that you deserve.
Premier Law Group understands the claim process, and the seriousness of seatbelt accident injuries. Let us collect all the accident evidence, deal with pushy claims adjustors, and manage the claims process for you and your loved ones.
Call Premier Law Group today at 206.285.1743 for a FREE Consultation!
Seatbelt Syndrome Symptoms
Seatbelt accident victims need to understand that many seatbelt injuries do not show symptoms right after the car accident. Therefore, it’s important to know what symptoms to watch for, that are part of the seatbelt syndrome symptoms and injuries.
The most common symptoms are:
- Bruises and swelling – indications of internal bleeding
- Difficulty breathing – could be due to chest injuries
- Pain between the hips and ribs, which can indicate damage to the kidneys
- Neck stiffness – this is usually due to whiplash or a spinal cord injury
- General weakness or fatigue – another indication of internal injuries
- Bleeding
- Pain that doesn’t go away
The most common and serious seatbelt accident injuries include the following:
- Chest injuries: Fractured sternum in the middle of the chest, causing extremely painful breathing and other internal organ injuries.
- Abdominal injuries: Seatbelts can dig into the skin during a crash and cause internal organ trauma and injuries to a person’s hips, intestines, kidneys, or gallbladder.
- Rib injuries: Ribs also can be broken, and are an extremely painful injury that causes other complications, including a punctured lung.
- Shoulder injuries: Most seatbelts today are strapped across at least one shoulder. In a sudden stop, the muscles and tendons of the shoulder can be pulled or torn, resulting in a reduced range of motion.
Altogether these symptoms and injuries make up Seatbelt Syndrome trauma.
Who’s Liable for Seatbelt Injuries?
Unless a vehicle is under recall for seatbelt flaws, the auto manufacturers are not usually found liable for seatbelt accident injuries. However, the person who caused the auto accident in the first place, will be held liable. That person will be responsible for all injuries and costs from the accident, even seatbelt accident injuries.
In most situations, determining fault for a car crash is fairly easy and straight forward. However, hit and run accidents are the exception to this. Accident fault in a hit and run accident is leveled at the person who caused the accident, even when they leave the accident scene. As long as there are eyewitness reports, pictures, videos, and police reports, responsibility for the accident can be placed.
Can Somebody Who Wasn’t Wearing a Seatbelt Still File an Injury Claim?
Washington State has a primary seat belt law. Police hand out tickets to drivers and to drivers with passengers who aren’t wearing seatbelts.
So, someone who is not wearing a seatbelt may get a ticket for not wearing one. But if it is an injury accident, especially if it’s caused by a negligent driver, you are eligible to file claims against the driver.
Can Whether I wore a Seatbelt Affect My Personal Injury Lawsuit?
Yes, it can. If you’re wearing your seat belt and are in a car crash due to another driver’s negligence, you will be eligible for full claim recovery.
However, this is not the case if you’re not wearing a seatbelt. People in an accident that clearly is the cause of another driver’s negligence, but are not wearing seatbelts, will not receive full compensation. Sometimes accident victims not wearing seatbelts are partly responsible for their own injuries. Even worse however, sometimes the victims don’t receive compensation at all.
This is really serious for all drivers to know that not wearing your seatbelt is illegal. Even worse, it means you will not receive full compensation for the accident. This includes medical bills, lost wages, rehabilitation, damages and even loss of employment … all because you didn’t wear a seatbelt.
Many people involved in accidents who choose not to wear their seatbelts end up filing for bankruptcy due to the high costs of their medical care. The financial impacts on your life and your family are horrendous and devastating.
Still, if you suffered injuries in the accident, even though you were not wearing your seatbelt, do not hesitate to contact Premier Law Group. We will listen to you, ask thoughtful questions, and do our due diligence. There can be extenuating circumstances that will help us, to help you get the accident compensation you deserve.
Getting Legal Help After Your Seatbelt Accident
We want all people to know that the best thing you can do is wear your seatbelt. Yes, even if you suffer seatbelt accident injuries as a result of the crash. The seatbelt may well save your life and that of your loved ones.
There are many compelling reasons to get the help of an experienced personal injury attorney. For example, if the cause of your accident was:
- A negligent driver
- A negligent and uninsured driver
- And aggressive claims adjustors, trying to force you to sign off on their settlement offer, before you even know the full extent of your injuries!
Meanwhile, your seatbelt accident injuries are getting worse. You cannot work nor take care of your family.
The Premier Law Group Difference!
As your “difference maker,” you always work with YOUR ATTORNEY — not just a paralegal. We are available 24/7 to answer your questions, and help you build your case.
Most importantly, our attorneys know how to collect all the evidence from seatbelt accidents. Count on your attorney to:
- Collect Police Reports
- Talk with Eyewitnesses
- Determine accident fault and negligence
From this fact-finding, your attorney builds your case and files claims for compensation. We negotiate FOR YOU and your loved ones.
Don’t sign off on an insurance claim until you talk with us. Focus on healing, and let your lawyer collect evidence and handle the claim details.
Contact a Dedicated Seattle Seatbelt Accident Attorney!
Call Premier Law Group! Get your FREE Consultation Today!
You always work directly with an attorney and we are available to you 24/7.
Call 206.285.1743 Today!