Vehicles of all types have been built over the years with an idea for improved safety of those who are inside of them. Some of these innovations have proved to be quite useful, while others have remained a staple for years, including seatbelts. Seatbelts may not be cutting-edge in terms of technology, but they remain a safety feature that generally provides a high degree of protection from harm.
However, there are situations in which seatbelts can actually cause injuries to someone during an Arizona auto accident. Below youll find information regarding the different types of seatbelts and what can go wrong even if they are not defective, common seatbelt defects that tend to lead to injuries, and finally how you should proceed in contacting an experienced auto accident lawyer in Phoenix if you or someone you love has suffered car accident seatbelt injuries.
Seatbelt Types and Common Injuries
As the automotive world has continued to advance and develop, new and different types of seatbelts have emerged in different models of vehicles. Below is a brief overview of these types of automobile seatbelts and the injuries they can cause even if they prove not to be defective.
Shoulder Belt Seatbelts
Shoulder belt seatbelts are those that simply wrap from the top of one shoulder diagonally to the beltline on the other side of a persons body. While this type of seatbelt system may feel safe, the lack of an additional strap across the waist can leave a person vulnerable to serious shoulder injury and neck injuries if the person slides down a bit during an motor vehicle collision and the seatbelt catches the person in a vulnerable area.
Lap Belt Seatbelts
Lap belt seatbelts are basically the opposite of shoulder belt seatbelts in that they involve only one strap that wraps around the waist. This type of seatbelt system is commonly found in the back seats of many vehicle models. When an auto accident occurs, these lap belt systems can lead to serious internal injuries in the abdominal area as well as spinal cord injuries because of the tendency for the body to be thrust forward and then back with a high degree of force.
Passive Restraint Systems
Many would consider the passive restraint system seatbelts to be the most advanced style available, and these systems require manual strapping and locking of a seatbelt across the waist while the shoulder strap automatically moves into place around the person when the car door closes or when the ignition is activated. The most common problem with these systems is similar to what is involved with the shoulder belt systems when a person forgets to lock the waist belt in place and in turn suffers an auto accident seatbelt injury.
Common Defects in Seatbelt Systems
Aside from the basic problems that exist with different seatbelt systems, there are other issues that can arise when seatbelts are defective. Below is a description of two different common seatbelt defects and the injuries that can result from them.
Defective Tension Detectors
Tension detectors are found in almost any modern seatbelt system. What this feature accomplishes is to remove the slack/wiggle room a seat belt provides when the belt feels tension and pressure in a forward direction so that the passenger is held in place. Unfortunately, these systems can prove to fail when theyre needed to tighten and hold the person in place. When this occurs, the car accident injuries can be similar to those suffered by someone who is only wearing a lap belt type of seat belt.
Defective Seat Belt Latches
Seatbelt systems may have advanced over time, but the fundamental aspect of them the manner in which the seatbelt locks into place has largely remained the same for many years. Unfortunately, when these models are defective, the common result is that the seatbelt disengages when the passenger needs it to hold in place the most, during an automobile collision.
In addition, the pressure thats applied to these latches can be exerted and the latch can come undone without the knowledge of the passenger. This often results in the passenger not being prepared to endure the force of the impact which only makes the ultimate accident injuries suffered even worse than they would have been otherwise.
How an Arizona Lawyer Can Help
If you have been in an auto accident and youve suffered seatbelt injuries that are at least partially due to a defective or malfunctioning seatbelt, you likely have a cause of action against both the party that was negligent and caused the accident and the manufacturer of the seatbelt or vehicle manufacturer for the additional injuries you have suffered.
However, this can be a complicated legal matter for people to deal with if they do not have experience, so rather than attempt to take this on yourself you should seek the help of Phoenix personal injury attorneys who have years of experience in holding every type of defendant accountable for injuries suffered. Contact Phillips Law Group today to schedule a free initial consultation.
Vehicles of all types have been built over the years with an idea for improved safety of those who are inside of them. Some of these innovations have proved to be quite useful, while others have remained a staple for years, including seatbelts. Seatbelts may not be cutting-edge in terms of technology, but they remain a safety feature that generally provides a high degree of protection from harm.
However, there are situations in which seatbelts can actually cause injuries to someone during an auto accident. Below youll find information regarding the different types of seatbelts and what can go wrong even if they are not defective, common seatbelt defects that tend to lead to injuries, and finally how you should proceed if you or someone you love has suffered injuries from a seat belt as a result of an Arizona auto accident.
Common Seatbelt Types and Common Injuries in Arizona
As the automotive world has continued to advance and develop, new and different types of seatbelts have emerged in different models of vehicles. Below is a brief overview of these types of seatbelts and the injuries they can cause even if they prove not to be defective.
Shoulder Belt Seatbelts
Shoulder belt seatbelts are those that simply wrap from the top of one shoulder diagonally to the beltline on the other side of a persons body. While this type of seatbelt system may feel safe, the lack of an additional strap across the waist can leave a person vulnerable to serious shoulder and neck injuries if the person slides down a bit during a crash and the seatbelt catches the person in a vulnerable area.
Lap Belt Seatbelts
Lap belt seatbelts are basically the opposite of shoulder belt seatbelts in that they involve only one strap that wraps around the waist. This type of seatbelt system is commonly found in the back seats of many vehicle models. When an auto accident occurs, these lap belt systems can lead to serious internal injuries in the abdominal area as well as spinal cord injuries because of the tendency for the body to be thrust forward and then back with a high degree of force.
Passive Restraint Systems
Many would consider the passive restraint system seatbelts to be the most advanced style available, and these systems require manual strapping and locking of a belt across the waist while the shoulder strap automatically moves into place around the person when the car door closes or when the ignition is activated. The most common problem with these systems is similar to what is involved with the shoulder belt systems when a person forgets to lock the waist belt in place.
Common Defects in Seatbelt Systems
Aside from the basic problems that exist with different seatbelt systems, there are other issues that can arise when seatbelts prove to be defective. Below is a description of two different common seatbelt defects and the injuries that can result from them.
Defective Tension Detectors
Tension detectors are found in almost any modern seatbelt system. What this feature accomplishes is to remove the slack/wiggle room a seat belt provides when the belt feels tension and pressure in a forward direction so that the passenger is held in place. Unfortunately, these systems can prove to fail when theyre needed to tighten and hold the person in place. When this occurs, the injuries can be similar to those suffered by someone who is only wearing a lap belt type of seat belt.
Defective Seat Belt Latches
Seatbelt systems may have advanced over time, but the fundamental aspect of them the manner in which the belt locks into place has largely remained the same for many years. Unfortunately, when these models are defective, the common result is that the seatbelt can disengage when the passenger needs it to hold in place the most.
In addition, the pressure thats applied to these latches can be exerted and the latch can come undone without the knowledge of the passenger. This often results in the passenger not being prepared to endure the force of the impact which only makes the ultimate injuries suffered even worse than they would have been otherwise.
Injured By a Seat Belt?
If you have been in an auto accident and youve suffered injuries that are at least partially due to your seatbelt, you likely have a cause of action against both the party that was negligent and caused the accident and the manufacturer of the seatbelt or the vehicle for the additional injuries you have suffered.
However, this can be a complicated legal matter for people to deal with if they do not have experience, so rather than attempt to take this on yourself you should seek the help of Arizona car accident lawyers who have years of experience in holding every type of defendant accountable for injuries suffered. Contact Phillips Law Group today to schedule a free initial consultation.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 84 percent of adult drivers and 82 percent of front seat passengers across the nation wore seatbelts in 2011. In addition, the District of Colombia and 15 states in the U.S. had a seatbelt usage rating of 90 percent or greater. While seatbelts help to protect vehicle occupants in auto accidents, the leading cause of death in 5-34 year olds, these safety devices have the potential to cause serious injury.
Seat belt injuries receive minimal attention amongst the buzz surrounding their benefits. Over the last 20 years, United States drivers have continually increased the seatbelt usage across each and every state. In fact, the usage rate for front seat passenger safety belts 6 times the rate documented in 1983. These numbers indicate a positive increase in the use of seatbelts.
In 2010, the NHTSA estimated that 12,546 lives were saved due to the use of safety belts. In the state of Arizona, all occupants in the car must be wearing a safety belt, regardless of their position in the vehicle. Seatbelts are made to protect auto passengers by design; however, there are certain circumstances when a seatbelt causes more damage than protection.
Seat belt injuries are an issue that goes largely undocumented in the state of Arizona. If you or a loved one has experienced any type of seat belt injuries, a Phoenix seatbelt injury lawyer is prepared to help you today.
Complete a Free Case Review for more information.
Seat Belt Facts
With all of the attention focused on the protection that seatbelts provide drivers and passengers, little amount of information is available in regard to the dangers associated with seat belt use in the event of an accident. With traffic crash injuries occurring every 15 seconds in the U.S., motorists must be aware of the potential hazards in relation to seat belt use.
The following are some interesting seat belt injury facts:
- Injuries to the ribs, sternum, and upper abdomen have been linked to the diagonal belt and the combination lap-and-diagonal belt in auto accidents
- Spine injuries are often connected to lap seat belts
- Skin abrasions of the chest, neck, and abdomen denote an internal injury in 30 percent of accident cases
- Wearing the seat belt improperly is amongst the most common reasons for seat belt injuries
If you or a loved one has suffered from seat belt injuries, an AZ auto accident lawyer is here for you.
Seat Belt Injuries Symptoms
A recent report indicates that Arizona motorists injury rate is 70.7 per 100,000 people across the state. Safety belts have saved the lives of thousands of drivers and passengers over the years of. Unfortunately, seat belt injuries following an accident often do not show up until the first few days after the collision.
Auto accident victims must look out for the following symptoms after a crash:
- Abdominal Pain: Kidney damage is a typical injury following a motor vehicle collision, accident victims should look for pain between the hips and ribs as an indicator of possible kidney damage
- Bleeding: damage to the bladder or urinary tract may be caused by organ compression due to a crash, seat belt injuries can cause bleeding, constipation, endometriosis, and/or colon obstruction
- Breathing Issues: accident victims experiencing difficulty in breathing may have endured damage to the chest, lungs, and heart
- General Weakness: feeling weak in the lower extremities, as well as the lower back and abdomen, may indicate internal damage caused by the safety belt
- Stiff Neck: car accidents often cause whiplash in drivers and passengers, seat belt injuries can trigger whiplash, neck stiffness, and even spinal cord injury
Seat belt injuries may take days to surface. To learn more, please fill out a Free Case Review today.
Common Safety Belt Injuries
Regardless of symptoms, a number of injuries and ailments have been linked to seat belts and the improper use of them. Even those passengers wearing the safety belt properly may experience injury depending upon the intensity of accident impact.
Some of the most common seat belt injuries include but are not limited to:
- Brain Damage
- Broken Bones
- Contusions
- Disfigurement
- Fractures
- Head Injury
- Internal Injury
- Paralysis
- Spinal Cord Damage
The damages associated with seat belt use, and more commonly, improper use of seat belts has caused thousands of injuries across the United States. A Phoenix personal injury lawyer is essential in the event that seat belt damage is present in a traffic collision.
Contact an AZ Seatbelt Injury Lawyer Today
Phillips Law Group has seen decades of auto accident injuries. While seat belts have been attributed to saving countless lives, there are instances where they cause more damage than good. In this case, an AZ seatbelt injury lawyer will use the combination of experience and resources to guide you through your case.
For more information, complete a Free Case Review and get started today.
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