Seat Belt Injuries

Seat belts save lives. That isn’t just a catchy slogan but a clear fact. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that seat belts reduce the risk of death by at least 45 percent and serious injury by at least 50 percent. Overall, seat belts saved the lives of 12,955 Americans in a single recent year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The agency estimates if more individuals wore their seat belts, another 2,549 lives may have been saved. Fortunately, seat belt usage has increased over time and is currently at 91 percent, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Motor vehicle accidents can be violent, life-altering events. Wearing a seat belt lowers your chances of being killed or seriously injured in one. At Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard, P.C., we’ve seen time and again how seat belts can save lives. However, we also understand that these vital pieces of safety equipment can also cause severe injuries, especially when the seat belt or buckling mechanisms are defective. We firmly believe that innocent people who suffer injuries that aren’t their fault should be compensated by those who are to blame.

If you suffered seat belt-related injuries in a car crash in Chicago, our dedicated legal team wants to help you pursue the financial restitution you deserve. Contact our office today for a free consultation and let a seat belt injury lawyer in Chicago explain your options for demanding justice.

How a Chicago Seat Belt Injury Lawyer Can Help with Your Claim

Recovering compensation after a Chicago car accident involving a careless driver can be challenging. Even more challenging is recovering compensation from a negligent manufacturer when a defective seat belt is to blame for your injuries. But regardless of whether you’re going up against a single motorist or a massive corporation, the legal team at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard, P.C., can help you pursue the money you need to complete your recovery following an auto accident.

Our Chicago seat belt injury lawyers know what it takes to build a solid case on your behalf. We have the resources and skillset to hold insurance companies and major manufacturers accountable. Our proactive and aggressive approach to car accident and product liability cases has helped us secure over $2.5 billion in verdicts and settlements for our clients. For over four decades, our legal team has made protecting our clients’ rights our number one priority, and it shows in the record-breaking results we achieve for the people we work with.

What Is a Seat Belt Injury?

Seat belt injuries are caused by the use of safety restraints inside vehicles. Common seat belt injuries include:

  • Chest injuries
  • Rib fractures
  • Contusions
  • Abrasions
  • Bruised ribs
  • Shoulder injuries
  • Vascular injuries
  • Damage to internal organs
  • Abdominal injuries, including intra-abdominal injuries, lower abdomen injuries, and other injuries to the abdominal cavity
  • Injuries to soft tissues, including to muscle fibers, tendons, or ligaments

Seat belts can also indirectly cause other types of injuries like whiplash because they restrain the torso while leaving the head free to snap forward and backward.

Seat belts can also cause serious injuries when they fail to work properly, including:

  • Head injuries
  • Internal organ damage
  • Spinal injuries
  • Bruised and fractured ribs
  • Sternum injuries
  • Visceral injuries

Fatal injuries can result from defective seat belts.

How Seat Belts Work

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, shoulder and lap belts prevent car accident victims from being ejected from a vehicle in case of a crash. They also keep occupants in place in case of a sudden stop in front of them. Without a proper safety belt, a vehicle occupant would continue moving at the same speed as a vehicle until they crash into what’s in front of them. Seat belts secure occupants to their seats so their momentum decreases and the crush zone absorbs most of the vehicle’s kinetic energy. The shoulder belt helps distribute forces across the shoulder, rib cage, and pelvis.

For seat belts to work as intended, they must fit properly. The shoulder strap should fit snugly across the center of the chest and shoulder, while the lap belt should fit snugly across the upper thighs or low on the hips.

Why Do Seat Belt Injuries Occur in Motor Vehicle Crashes?

Seat belts save lives. So, how do they also cause injuries during a car accident? Generally speaking, they do so in one of two ways.

First, consider the function of a seat belt. These safety devices keep a person secured inside a vehicle during a violent collision. They work via a retractor mechanism, typically involving a durable belt made from a woven or webbed material connected to a retractor mechanism housed inside a plastic shell. When you pull the belt, a spool rotates, giving the user slack and allowing them to buckle their belt. When a car is involved in a collision, a locking mechanism stops the spool from rotating, locking the belt in place, which prevents the passenger’s torso from flying forward. Thanks to the seat belt, everything else in the vehicle keeps accelerating forward while the occupant’s body remains securely in the car’s seat.

However, seat belts can cause injuries due to the violent force of an impact. As the belt works to prevent the wearer from crashing through the windshield and being ejected, the pressure it applies to the chest, shoulders, and torso can lead to broken ribs, contusions, and soft tissue injuries where the belt touches the body. Seat belts can also cause internal organ damage.

The second major cause of seat belt-related injury is the device’s failure to work as intended. Defective locking mechanisms or buckles can come loose during an accident, leaving the passenger unrestrained. The result can be ejection from the vehicle, strangulation, amputations, paralysis, and other catastrophic injuries. A Chicago car crash lawyer can hold car and parts manufacturers responsible for any injuries caused by defective seat belts.

Symptoms of Seat Belt Injuries

You may have suffered a seat belt injury if you experience the following symptoms after a car accident:

  • Chest pain
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Bruising
  • Abdominal pain
  • Stomach cramps
  • Abnormal bladder or bowel movements
  • Neck pain
  • Bloating
  • Swelling
  • Muscle weakness
  • Abrasion on the chest or abdomen
  • Vomiting

Following a crash, seek medical attention right away. The symptoms of seat belt injuries like internal bleeding and organ damage may not manifest themselves immediately. A medical professional can conduct a medical evaluation and look for signs of internal trauma and other injuries. Delaying medical treatment can lead to blood loss, infections, and organ failure.

Diagnosis and Treatment for Seat Belt Injuries

Diagnosing a seat belt injury involves performing physical examinations and running tests such as X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans. These tests can indicate whether there is extensive soft tissue damage, broken bones, or organ damage.

Treatment for seat belt injuries depends on the location and severity of the injury. Some seat belt injuries, like minor abrasions, can be treated with over-the-counter pain medication and rest. However, organ damage, internal bleeding, and other severe injuries may require surgery, hospitalization, and rehabilitation.

Compensation for Seat Belt Injury Claims

At Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard, P.C., our Chicago seat belt injury lawyers are committed to helping you pursue maximum compensation. This could include money for your:

  • Medical bills
  • Lost wages
  • Loss of future earning capacity
  • Property damage
  • Pain and suffering
  • Discuss your case with an attorney from our Chicago law firm today to learn about your legal options for getting the necessary compensation.

Contact a Chicago Seat Belt Lawyer for Help with Your Claim

If you suffered injuries in a car crash caused by someone else’s negligence, our Chicago seat belt attorneys can help. Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard, P.C. has recovered more than $2.5 billion in fair compensation for our clients. Our team of Chicago personal injury attorneys is ready to get to work for you. Contact our office today for a free consultation.