What You Should Know About Car Accident Seat Belt Injuries in Mobile

Wearing a seat belt can save your life in a car accident. On the other hand, seat belts can cause serious injuries.

If you suffered a car accident seat belt injury, you need to know your legal rights and how to get compensation. Our Mobile car accident lawyers have secured compensation for many types of crash injuries. Call today to find out how we may be able to help you.

What Are the common Types of Car Accident Seat Belt Injuries?

Seat belts keep crash victims from getting ejected from their vehicles, which helps lower the risk of serious injury.

The force a seat belt uses to keep your body in place can also cause serious external and internal injuries. You should still wear a seat belt, but you need to be aware of the possibility of a seat belt injury.

Doctors often refer to the bruising and pain from a seat belt injury as “seat belt syndrome.” However, there are many different types of seat belt injuries:

Bruised Ribs

The three-point harness seat belts in most vehicles sit across the chest. Unfortunately, this can bruise or even fracture ribs in a crash. Although bruising your ribs does is certainly not as extreme as suffering fractured ribs, the pain is similar. If your side or ribs hurt after a car accident, get medical help to tell the difference and treat the pain.

Chest Pain and Sternum Injuries

After a forceful impact, the seat belt strap that goes across your chest can cause major internal injuries. The strap puts extreme pressure on your sternum, which is the bone in the center of your chest. This could potentially damage your heart and lungs behind it.

In most low-speed crashes, the pain is mostly limited to soft-tissue damage. However, you’ll need a medical diagnosis to confirm your injury and get official care instructions.

Shoulder Injuries

Your shoulder is also vulnerable to injury from your seat belt. The force of your seat belt could tear tendons and muscle fibers in your shoulder, causing significant pain.

Soft-tissue shoulder injuries can cause long-term discomfort and take a long time to heal. Victims should always follow their doctor’s orders.

Abdominal Injuries

Older cars and the middle seats in trucks often have lap seat belts. These can cause abdominal injuries, including damage to internal organs. If you experience pain in your abdomen or “guts” after an auto accident, go to the doctor right away.

Abrasions and Lacerations

Though many seat belt injuries are internal, there are external effects as well. Seat belts can cause you scrapes and cuts across your body and can even leave an imprint of your seat belt on your body. If not cleaned, dressed, and treated by a doctor, cuts and scrapes can quickly become infected, heal more slowly, and leave scars.

Some symptoms of seat belt injuries include:

• Bruising or tenderness in your chest or abdomen
• Weakness in your legs
• Pain in your chest
• Labored breathing

RELATED: How Long After an Accident Can You File a Personal Injury Claim in Alabama?

How Can I Get Compensation for My Seat Belt Injuries in Mobile?

There are several steps you can take to protect your health, finances and legal rights after a car crash:

• Call first responders and get medical attention immediately. You should get treatment right away, even if you think you only have minor injuries. If you are worried about paying for medical care, remember that you can include any bills in your insurance claim.
• Call the police and make sure they file a police report. Having a record of your incident with your side of the story can strengthen your case.
• Preserve the evidence. If it is safe to do so, take as many photos of the scene as possible. Detail is key to your personal injury case.
• Exchange information with the other driver. If you can, include driver’s licenses and insurance information.
• Contact the insurance company. Call the at-fault driver’s insurance company to tell them you will be submitting a claim. Don’t let them pressure you into any official statements or settlement offers. You should review any settlement offers with a lawyer.
• Call Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys for a free consultation. We are available to help you understand your rights, options, insurance claims process, and more. Simply fill out our form or give our office a call to schedule a free, no-risk meeting with an experienced attorney.

You should get treatment right away, even if you think you only have minor injuries. If you are worried about paying for medical care, remember that you can include any bills in your insurance claim.

Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys Stands Up for People in Mobile and Across Alabama Who’ve Suffered Seat Belt Injuries

A Mobile lawyer from Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys is ready to help you:

• Calculate the true value of your case, including the cost of your medical bills (past and future), lost wages, emergency medical services, the cost of your medical equipment, medication, pain and suffering and more
• Handle communications and negotiations with the insurance company, hospitals, and other players in your case. This also includes the relevant paperwork
• Investigate all possible sources of compensation, including your own insurance policies or a seat belt manufacturer who may have knowingly installed faulty seat belts in your vehicle
• Move quickly and decisively to protect any evidence in your case, such as witness testimony, surveillance footage, electronic logs from service vehicles, and more
• Understand your rights and options so you can make the best choice for your health, your family, and your future

Our law firm has represented people just like you in Mobile and across the Alabama and Mississippi Gulf Coast region.

For example, we represented Caylin, a nursing student who was sideswiped by a semi-truck. Our team fought for her, and Caylin took home a settlement that was five times the insurance company’s initial offer. We were proud to win for her, and we’re ready to win for you!

Our law firm has represented people just like you in Mobile and across the Alabama and Mississippi Gulf Coast region, including Caylin, a nursing student who was sideswiped by a semi-truck. Our team fought for her, and Caylin took home a settlement that was five times the insurance company’s initial offer. We were proud to win for her, and we’re ready to win for you!

Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys Are Ready to Help After Your Car Accident

For decades, the experienced team at Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys has been helping injured people get fair compensation for their injuries. Attorney Andy Citrin and his team are ready to handle all types of personal injury cases, including those involving seat belt injuries. To schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys, please give us a call at 251-888-8888 or complete our online form.

References

Martin, H, Jennifer, C. (2021, September 5). Seat Belt Injuries. StatPearls. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470262/

The content provided here is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject.