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Car Safety Features May Cause Problems in an Accident

While wearing a seat belt and having airbags in your car can potentially save your life in a Car Accident, there is no guarantee that you will come out completely injury-free. Car Safety Features that can Cause Harm

For safety devices, seat belts and airbags can be the cause of severe injuries. 

Seat belts are made to keep you in your seat so you are not thrown from your vehicle during a collision. As a result, when a sudden stop or collision occurs, the force can save your life, but it can also leave you with injuries. 

Airbag injuries are not as common, but when they occur, it usually means you have suffered a life-altering trauma. 

Common Seat Belt Injuries 

1. Chest and Sternum

The chest and sternum are a direct point of impact with a seat belt. When a sudden stop or impact with another vehicle or object occurs, the chest and sternum can be significantly affected by the sudden force. 

The sternum is located near the heart and lungs, so if a sternum injury occurs, it can also affect the organs in that area. 

It is crucial to seek immediate medical treatment if your chest is feeling sore after a car accident. Your soreness and achenes could be the result of a much worse internal problem.

2. Ribs

Depending on the severity of the accident, the restraining force of the seat belt could be Seat Belt Injury After a Car Accidentpowerful enough to fracture the ribs.

Fractured ribs will cause significant pain that could last for a few months. 

If your ribs become fractured after a motor vehicle accident, you will need to see a Medical Professional as soon as possible. The dislocated bone could puncture or interfere with the heart or lungs. 

3. Abrasions and Lacerations 

Seat belts can affect victims externally as well. The roughness of the seat belt can rub against the skin, leaving painful scrapes and cuts. The pressure of the seat belt can also cause an imprint of the belt on your body, leaving the entire area sore and bruised. 

Seat belt wounds should be treated as quickly as possible to prevent infection from developing. 

4. Abdomen and Soft Tissue 

The abdominal region is not always the immediate area of impact for a seat belt. However, the pressure from the accident can cause injury to the abdomen and surrounding organs. Abdominal pain may not manifest immediately following the accident, but it can cause pain and discomfort later on. 

5. Shoulder

The force from a car accident can cause the seat belt to tear tendons and muscle fibers in the shoulder, which will cause pain and discomfort. Often this injury will require frequent icing to reduce inflammation as well as physical therapy to restore range of motion in the shoulder. 

Common Airbag Injuries 

There are various body parts that are exposed to the airbags in a car. The injuries that one may suffer can vary depending on the directional force the body absorbs.

Different types of airbag designs can impact the injuries that are suffered by the victims, along with the substances in the airbag and the rapidity with which the airbags are deployed. 

Some of the most common airbag injuries include: 

  • Abrasions to the Face, Chest, and upper extremitiesCommon Airbag Injuries after a Car Accident
  • Burns on the chest, hands, or upper extremities 
  • Internal Bleeding
  • Fracture to the Face or Chest
  • Bruising or Swelling of the Brain 
  • Loss of Consciousness 
  • Irritation of the Skin 
  • Irritation in the Throat 

Airbag injuries can be very serious and lead to disability or chronic health issues.

Seeing a Medical Professional immediately after an accident is always advised to ensure that your injuries are treated quickly so they do not become worse. 

Once you have been seen by a Doctor, it is important to contact an experienced Car Accident Injury Attorney to help with your claim. 

If your accident was caused by a negligent driver, and you suffered seat belt or airbag injuries, you should be compensated for your pain and suffering. 

The Attorneys at our Georgia Firm have years of experience helping the injured receive the benefits they are owed after suffering a motor vehicle wreck. 

Our Georgia Lawyers provide a free consultation to see how we can best assist with your needs.

If you were hurt in a Car Accident, click below to schedule a free consult with the Top Accident Injury Lawyers at our Georgia law firm today. 

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