Seat Belt Bruising and Injuries

Wearing a sea tbelt can save lives. It is an effective way to protect drivers and passengers traveling on our dangerous Nevada roads.

Accidents involving an SUV, cars, and trucks can be devastating.

There is proof that wearing a seat belt can help reduce injuries and fatalities after a serious crash.

Bruising, from a seat belt is a common injury sustained after a car crash.

The force of being held back in the seat belt is one of the causes.

Bruising may not reveal itself immediately after a crash.

It may take some time. It is important to always receive medical attention after a motor vehicle accident.

It is possible to receive compensation after an accident.

After a crash, it is important to speak with an injury attorney.

Don’t take these types of injuries lightly. Bruising can often be a symptom of something much more serious.

Our experienced and highly trained personal injury attorneys understand these cases and will seek to get you the compensation that you deserve.

CDC Seat Belt Statistics

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has compiled a number of recent statistics on seat belts in the US.

Car accidents are the leading cause of fatalities among those age 54 and younger.

Those ages, 18-24 are less likely to wear seat belts. Studies show that men are less likely to wear a seat belt than women.

City motorists wear seat belts more than those in non-metropolitan areas.

Nevada law requires motorists to wear seat belts. This has a major effect on getting people to use them.

Wearing a seat belt saves thousands of lives every year. The severity of injuries and fatalities are reduced by about 50%.

Injuries can still happen when wearing a seat belt. Bruising is one of the most common types.

Motorists should always buckle up when diving or riding in a car.

This means both those in the front and back seats of the vehicle.

What is ‘Seat Belt Syndrome?’

When a seat belt is worn during a car accident, certain types of injuries can occur. Injuries to the chest and the stomach area often happen.

The pressure that the seat belt puts on the body trying to restrain it can cause these types of injuries.

One of the most common injuries of seat belt syndrome is bruising. Bruising injuries can be wide-ranging.

Minor bruising can heal in a week.

If blood vessels are seriously damaged, it may take much longer.

In cases where the bruising lasts longer, it may be a sign of a more serious injury.

Internal injuries are hard to diagnose on your own. It is important to have a medical professional check for internal injuries after an accident.

And it’s important to contact a top Las Vegas car accident Lawyer for help.

This way, they can monitor the progress of the injuries sustained.

Internal injuries, if unchecked, can cause severe complications.

In some cases, they can even be fatal.

Signs of Seat Belt Bruising

Seat belt bruising is often noticed across the chest, and abdomen area. The shoulder may show bruising signs as well.

These areas of the body are in contact with the seat belt.

The speed, and impact of the crash will usually have a direct result on the severity of these injuries.

There are many signs that will appear, if bruising has occurred.

Pain and Tenderness: The area bruising will be sensitive to the touch. There will be pain in the area, where the bruising is taking place. Movement will be painful. The pain from a seat belt bruising injury can worsen with time.

Discoloration: Bruising can start out a light red color. Over time, it can turn much darker. It will usually turn purple and then even darker as it heals.

Swelling: Injuries that are more serious will have swelling. The body will increase in size around the injury. The body’s immune system will send blood to the injured area. This will help the healing process. This increase in blood flow causes swelling.

Breathing Issues: This can happen if the chest and ribs sustain the force of the seat belt. Trying to get air into the lungs can become more difficult. Breathing can become much more painful if the injury is serious. Breathing difficulties must be addressed immediately.

Abdominal Bruising: An accident can cause injury to this part of the body. Bruising, and pain in the stomach area can result after an accident. This can also have an effect on bowel movements.

Stiffens: A seat belt bruising injury may come with stiffness. This can occur throughout the healing process. This can make daily life difficult. A full recovery from a bruising injury will take time to heal.

If you notice any of these symptoms, get to a doctor or emergency room for a full medical evaluation. Bruising can be a sign of organ and internal injuries.

Tips to Help Prevent Seat Belt Injuries

Wearing the seat belt correctly can help to prevent injuries. It is impossible to prevent all bruises, but these tips can reduce their severity.

Seat Adjustment: It is important that you drive in the right position. Back straight and feet flat on the floor is the correct posture. Don’t slump in the seat or sit sideways. This goes for passengers as well.

Shoulder Belt: Placing this under the arm is incorrect. Putting the belt behind the back is also improper. Always have the belt across your chest. It should also be resting between the shoulder and the neck area.

Adjust the Seat Belt: Make sure that the belt is at the proper adjustment for you. It should be adjusted to fit the individual wearing it correctly. Not the person that sat in the seat before you.

Lap Belt: This should be placed across the pelvis and hips. It should not be tightened across the stomach.

Check for defects: A seat belt must be in excellent working condition in order to be effective. Check to make sure the seat belt is functioning properly. If it is defective or broken, replace it with a new one immediately.

The seat belt and the airbag should both be working properly.

If there is an accident, these two safety features combined can make a difference in the outcome of the injuries.

Who is Liable for Seat Belt Bruising?

You may be eligible to recover damages from a bruising injury. If the accident was caused by the fault of another, you have every right to file a lawsuit.

Proving liability will be necessary in order to support your claim.

Here are some of the key liability factors of a seat belt bruising injury.

At-Fault Driver: When there is proof that another driver was negligent, they can be held liable. Speeding and driving distracted are major contributors to car accidents with bruising injuries.

Employer of an At-Fault Driver: If the at-fault driver was using a work vehicle, the employer can be held liable as well.

Defective Seat Belt: The manufacturer and distributor can be held liable if the seat belt was defective. This is not as uncommon as you may think. Improperly working seat belts that malfunction, can have devastating consequences.

What is Comparative Negligence?

In some injury lawsuits, the injured party’s actions can come under question.

If the seat belt was worn improperly, it can be argued, that they were partially at fault for the bruising sustained.

The amount of liability, and compensation can be reduced in these types of cases.

Comparative negligence can be used to bring a fair balance to the lawsuit. It can allow for a percentage to be placed on the liability for the damages.

Remember to always wear your seat belt. Make sure that the belt is not defective, and that everyone in the vehicle is wearing it properly.