Auto Accident Attorneys for People With Seatbelt Injuries

The CDC has discovered that over 51 percent of car crash victims avoided death because they were wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident. While seatbelts may be able to prevent deaths, the serious injuries that can result from the restraint of seatbelts has only recently been discussed in society. Illinois law affords a person who has injuries related to a seatbelt to recover compensation for their injuries from the party that caused the collision. Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers frequently assists people with seatbelt injuries in Chicago auto accidents get the compensation they are entitled to. Contact our office now for a free case review.

Individuals who receive seat belt injuries should be aware that they may have legal rights. Just because a seat belt may have saved the life of an individual does not mean that individual is prevented from recovery for injuries resulting from that seat belt. A seatbelt may have a manufacturing or design defect, and this means that all companies in the chain of distribution may be liable for the damages suffered by a driver and his or her passengers.

Our Illinois auto accident lawyers can help you assert your legal rights if you have received a seatbelt injury. We are ready to guide you through the legal process and take the time to meet with you. Please feel free to fill out our online form or call us for more information to receive a free case review.

In Illinois, all drivers and front seat passengers have a legal obligation to wear a seat belt while a vehicle is in motion. In addition, passengers under 19 must wear a seat belt if a driver is under 18 years old. All children under 8 years of age, and regardless of their location in a vehicle, must be secured in an approved child safety restraint system.

In serious car accidents, seatbelts can restrain individuals in vehicles that may reach speeds in excess of 100 m.p.h. The severe restraint that individuals experience in these car accidents can leave individuals with whiplash, severed limbs and other serious injuries. A study published by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration found that thousands of individuals suffered from lap and shoulder injuries when they used seatbelts.

The NHTSA discovered the following seat belt injury statistics in a study entitled, “Seat-Belt Injuries in Medical and Statistical Perspectives:”

• 4,617 individuals suffered from lap injuries after using a seat belt, to account for an injury rate of 24.2 percent
• 81,461 individuals suffered from lap/shoulder injuries after using a seat belt, to account for an injury rate of 25.2 percent
• 129,327 individuals suffered from injuries as a result of using no seat belt, for an injury rate of 54.6 percent

Numerous other research studies have also been published and track the injuries that individuals suffer in auto accidents after using seat belts. In a study published by the Southern Medical Journal, Dr. Greingor and Dr. Lazarus discovered that patients with seat belt injuries frequently suffered from sternal fractures and abdominal injuries. The study is entitled, “Chest and Abdominal Injuries Caused by Seat Belt Wearing,” and it made the following findings about passengers involved in auto accidents:

• Suffered from an increase in abdominal tenderness
• Suffered from bowel injuries
• Suffered from an increase in higher mortality and morbidity rates for delayed diagnosis of bowel injuries

There are common injuries that individuals can suffer from the use of seat belts as restraining devices:

• Broken bones
• Head injuries
• Whiplash
• Fractured sternum
• Spinal cord injuries
• Internal bleeding and trauma
• Abdominal injuries
• Bowel injuries
• Skin abrasions

If you received a seatbelt injury after a car accident, then please speak with one of our attorneys for help today. We understand how overwhelming it can be to consider filing a lawsuit for a seat belt injury. Please feel free to discuss your questions or concerns with Illinois auto accident lawyers at any time. Contact us here for a free, no obligation consultation.

Sources:

• http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/injury.htm
• http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/Esv/esv16/98S6W25.PDF
• http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/533761_3