According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, seatbelt use in the United States was at 90.3 percent in 2020. Since 2017, wearing seatbelts has saved 14,955 lives. In addition, wearing a safety belt can reduce the risk of moderate to critical injury by one-half for accident victims.
Even though research shows that seatbelts save lives, seatbelt injuries are common in car accidents. The West Palm Beach car accident lawyers of Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers have decades of experience handling car accident claims, including seatbelt injury claims. We have helped our clients recover millions.
If you sustained injuries in a car accident in West Palm Beach, FL, you could be entitled to compensation for your damages and injuries. Contact our law firm for a free consultation with one of our West Palm Beach seatbelt injury lawyers, call us at (561) 556-7873 today.
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How Our West Palm Beach Car Accident Lawyers Can Help You Recover the Money You Deserve
Seat belts save lives, but they can also cause life-threatening conditions in a car crash. Although most people think of whiplash when they think of seatbelt injuries, safety belts can also cause internal injuries. These injuries, in turn, can cost thousands of dollars to treat.
You deserve compensation if someone else caused your accident. However, you need a trusted West Palm Beach car accident attorney on your side to look out for your best interest and protect you from the insurance company.
When you hire the legal team at Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers to handle your accident claim, you can expect us to:
- Investigate the cause of the crash and the factors that lead to your injuries
- Identify all parties who might be responsible for your injuries
- Handle all matters related to insurance claims, including filing claims and negotiating settlements
- Consult with medical experts, accident reconstructionists, and other expert witnesses in West Palm Beach, Florida, as necessary
- Work with you to document your damages and the extent of your injuries
- Aggressively pursue every legal cause of action to get you a fair and just settlement for your injury claim
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced car accident attorneys in West Palm Beach, FL. We will answer your questions and provide legal advice during a no-obligation, free appointment.
Why Do Seatbelts Cause Injuries During a Collision?
Wearing a seatbelt is one of the best ways to reduce your risk of death and traumatic injuries in a car accident. In most cases, seatbelts do not cause severe injuries during a crash. However, a safety belt could cause or contribute to a severe injury in some cases.
Reasons that seatbelts cause injuries include, but are not limited to:
- The seatbelt was defective or malfunctioned during the collision
- The person may have had a pre-existing condition that was aggravated by the seatbelt
- Improper positioning of shoulder belts or lap belts
- A child was too short, so the seatbelt did not fit correctly
- The person was wearing the seatbelt incorrectly
Seatbelt injuries vary depending on the circumstances of the accident. Each person’s case is unique. If you are unsure whether a seatbelt caused your injury, seek legal advice immediately.
Signs That You Could Have a Seatbelt Injury
Sudden stops and the force of the impact cause seatbelts to tighten. The tightening can cause bruising and soft tissue injury to the tendons and muscle fibers. The person may experience minor soreness after the car crash.
However, if you experience any of the following symptoms, you should be evaluated immediately by a medical professional:
- Chest pain
- Abdominal pain
- Discoloration or bruising
- Weakness or dizziness
- Limited mobility in the shoulders and arms
- Difficulty breathing
- Swelling
- Nausea or vomiting
- Difficulty with urination or bowel movements
- Trouble controlling your breathing patterns
In some cases, you may experience discomfort from fractured ribs. In other cases, you could only notice swelling and bruising in your chest and abdomen. Ignoring any symptoms after a car crash could result in an injury progressing to a life-threatening stage.
Common Injuries Caused by Seatbelts During a Crash In West Palm Beach, Florida
The injuries caused by seatbelts could include, but are not limited to:
- Seatbelt syndrome
- Internal injuries and bleeding
- Injury to the heart and lungs
- Damage to internal organs
- Shoulder injuries
- Chest injury
- Whiplash and neck injuries
- Broken or bruised ribs
If a seatbelt malfunctions and fails to restrain you during a crash, you could slam into the dashboard. Injuries from a defective seatbelt could include traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injuries, and broken bones. Additionally, a person can be ejected from the vehicle if the seatbelt does not function correctly, resulting in a wrongful death.
Who is Liable for Seatbelt Injuries in West Palm Beach, FL?
In many cases, the at-fault driver is financially liable for damages caused by the wreck, including seatbelt injuries. However, if the seatbelt was defective, the manufacturer could be liable for damages.
Other parties that could share liability for a seatbelt injury include government entities (defective roads), passengers (passenger negligence), and employers of at-fault parties (vicarious liability). Our legal team thoroughly analyzes your case to identify each party that contributed to the car crash.
Compensation for a car accident claim may include economic damages, such as the cost of physical therapy, lost wages, and medical treatment. You could also receive compensation for non-economic damages, such as disfigurement, pain and suffering, and impairments.
Contact Our West Palm Beach, FL Car Crash Lawyer
Do not let the insurance company convince you that you do not need legal counsel after a seatbelt injury. Instead, reach out to our office today online or by telephone to speak with an attorney.
Your first appointment with a West Palm Beach injury attorney is free of charge. It does not cost you anything to get the legal advice you need to protect your best interests.
