Seat belts save thousands of lives each year by preventing people from being ejected from vehicles or striking the dashboard during a crash. However, the same restraining force that protects you can also cause significant injury when the impact is severe. In South Carolina, crash victims often suffer bruises, fractures, or even life-threatening internal trauma directly linked to seat belt use.
Understanding these injuries, their warning signs, and your legal rights is essential if you’ve been involved in a collision.
How Seat Belts Protect You
During a collision, your body continues moving forward due to inertia even as the car stops. A seat belt counteracts this by applying a restraining force, slowing you down, and preventing impact with the car’s interior. It distributes this force across the strongest parts of your body, the ribcage and pelvis, to prevent catastrophic harm. However, this intense force itself can still cause injury.
Most Common Seat Belt Injuries
Injuries typically occur where the shoulder and lap belts make direct contact with the body.
- Chest and Sternum Injuries: The shoulder strap’s force can cause bruising, fractured ribs, or a fractured sternum (breastbone). Severe impacts can lead to serious cardiac or pulmonary contusions.
- Abdominal Injuries: The lap belt can severely compress the abdomen, causing bruising or life-threatening damage to internal organs like the spleen, liver, or intestines.
- Shoulder and Collarbone Injuries: The shoulder strap can cause deep bruising, sprains, or fractures of the clavicle (collarbone).
- Neck and Spinal Injuries: While the body is restrained, the head can still snap forward violently, causing whiplash. In rare, severe cases, the restraint can contribute to spinal injuries.
Understanding Seat Belt Syndrome
Seat Belt Syndrome refers to a specific set of injuries caused by the force of a seatbelt during a serious crash. The most visible sign is bruising or abrasions along the path of the belt—often called the “seat belt sign.” This mark often signals deeper damage, like spinal fractures or internal organ injuries such as bowel perforation.
If you see a seatbelt mark after a crash, assume serious internal injury and seek emergency care immediately. South Carolina law requires all drivers and passengers to wear seatbelts, but that doesn’t mean seatbelt-related injuries can’t occur. Prompt diagnosis can save lives and protect your legal rights if someone else caused the crash.
Symptoms of a Serious Seat Belt Injury
Adrenaline can mask pain after a crash. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience delayed symptoms such as:
- Abdominal pain, tenderness, or swelling
- Deep bruising on your chest or abdomen
- Painful or difficult breathing
- Blood in your urine or stool
- Worsening shoulder or neck pain
- Dizziness or nausea
Treatment for Seat Belt Injuries
Treatment is based on the specific injury. Minor bruises and sprains may only require rest and ice. Fractures may need a cast or surgery. Serious internal injuries are medical emergencies that often require immediate surgical intervention.
How to Prevent Seat Belt Injuries
Proper use is key to minimizing injury risk.
- The lap belt should sit snugly across your upper thighs and pelvis, not your stomach.
- The shoulder belt should cross your chest and shoulder, not your neck.
- Never place the shoulder belt behind your back or under your arm.
- Ensure the belt is snug with no slack.
Can You Sue for a Seat Belt Injury in South Carolina?
Yes. If another driver’s negligence caused the accident, you can seek compensation for all resulting injuries, including those from your seat belt. You can recover damages as long as you are 50% or less at fault for the crash. Your final compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. You cannot recover anything if you are 51% or more at fault.
Role of a Personal Injury Lawyer in Seat Belt Injury Cases in South Carolina
Navigating a personal injury claim, especially with delayed or internal injuries, is complex. A skilled personal injury lawyer is highly beneficial to protect your rights. Their role includes:
- Proving Liability: Investigating the crash to establish the other party’s fault.
- Documenting Injuries: Working with medical experts to document the full extent of your injuries and future needs.
- Working to recover full and fair compensation: Calculating all damages, including medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
- Negotiating and Litigating: Handling all communication with insurance companies and representing you in court if a fair settlement cannot be reached.
If you are injured in a car accident, your first priority is medical attention. Your next step should be consulting with a qualified attorney to understand and help protect your legal rights.
