Thursday, November 28, 2013

What Is Seatbelt Syndrome?

If a safety belt does not have any defects and is used correctly, it has a high rate of success in protecting people during car accidents. However, design flaws as well as manufacturing defects can lead to seat belt problems that can hurt you rather than help you if you are involved in an accident. Although not technically a medical term, seat belt syndrome is a range of symptoms associated with seat belt-related injuries.Normally, a safety belt holds you in place during a car accident so that you are not tossed around-or even out of-the vehicle due to the force of the accident. While this is often effective, doctors have still noticed adults and children coming to the emergency room following an auto accident with injuries that can only be attributed to the actions of the safety belt.First, many seat belts were once designed with only a band across the lap. While this keeps your lower half in the seat, it still allows for your head and torso to be thrown forward. This design flaw causes most of your forward momentum to be pressed against the lap band. Because of this pressure, people wearing only lap bands can suffer from internal organ injuries such as bowel perforation as well as damage to your abdominal wall.Additionally, because this design flaw allowed the upper half of your body to travel forward, many people wearing only lap belts also experience trauma to the spine. Doctors typically see lumbar fractures created as the momentum carries you forward while the seat belt holds you back, stretching your spine in two different directions.Now, seat belts are typically designed to have both a shoulder strap and a lap band. However, these are still not perfect. If the locking mechanism causes a safety belt to squeeze you too tightly during an accident, you can also suffer trauma to your upper body. This can cause broken ribs or a fractured sternum. If the trauma is significant, it can actually cause a myocardial contusion, or a bruise to the heart muscle.Safety belt flaws and malfunctions can cause seat belt syndrome, a dangerous collection of injuries including internal organ damage, spine fractures, and chest trauma. If you have suffered from "seat belt syndrome" due to a defective safety belt, you should not let this go unpunished.



To fight back, contact a knowledgeable Stevens Point product liability lawyer from Habush Habush & Rottier, S.C., today.James Witherspoon

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