Seatbelt Injury

Did you sustain a seatbelt injury in a car accident in San Diego, CA? If so, you could be entitled to recover compensation for your related medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Mission Personal Injury Lawyers has a 99% success rate with the cases they handle.

We’ll bring more than four decades of combined legal experience to your case. We’ve recovered tens of millions of dollars in life-changing awards for clients since 2010. Our award-winning car accident attorneys in San Diego, California are ready to stand up for you and fight for the compensation you deserve. We have the experience, resources, and dedication it takes to win.

Call now for your free consultation at (619) 777-5555 to see how we can help. 

How Mission Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help With a Seatbelt Injury in San Diego

How Mission Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help With a Seatbelt Injury in San Diego

When you’re injured after an accident, you have several things to worry about: medical bills piling up, missing work, and above all, trying to rest and recover. That doesn’t mean you should miss out on getting the compensation you are owed. Let our experienced car accident lawyers in San Diego, CA help.

When you hire our trusted legal team, we’ll:

  • Conduct a thorough investigation into your accident
  • Calculate damages for all of your injuries, including ones caused by your seatbelt and any others sustained in your accident
  • Hire experts as necessary to support your claim
  • Handle all communications and negotiations with insurance companies
  • Send a top-rated litigator to fight for you in court if necessary

We are committed to giving your case the immediate attention it deserves. We’ll explain everything to you and make sure you understand all of your options every step of the way. Call our San Diego, CA law office today for a free case evaluation.

What Are Seatbelt Injuries?

Seatbelt injuries occur due to the forceful contact between the body and the seatbelt during a crash. Marks left on the body, such as bruises and abrasions, caused by a seatbelt are referred to as “seatbelt signs.” If you have underlying injuries to muscle, bone, or internal organs, your doctor may tell you that you have “seatbelt syndrome.”

Seatbelts Save Lives

To be clear, the risk of a seatbelt injury does not mean you shouldn’t buckle up. There’s no question that seatbelts save lives. They prevent fatal accidents by lowering the risk of severe head injury and ejection from the vehicle in the event of a crash.

Thankfully, about 95% of Californians use seat belts, which exceeds the national rate of about 90%. Even with that relatively high national rate, an estimated 46,000 people died in vehicle accidents in the U.S. in 2021. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control, in one study, over half of people between 13-44 years old who were killed in automobile crashes were not wearing seatbelts. 

How Do Seatbelt Injuries Occur in San Diego?

Seatbelts have changed a lot since their invention in the 1800s. Until the early 1970s, just a front lap belt was the standard for seatbelts. In 1973, the seatbelt design was improved to the current 3-point harness. Modern seatbelts rest on the shoulder, chest, and abdomen. 

When a vehicle is involved in a collision, the force of the body triggers the seatbelt’s locking mechanism. The extreme force of the body against the seatbelt can cause significant blunt force injury to the neck, chest, or abdomen.

What Injuries Are Caused by Seatbelts?

Seatbelts are designed to direct force to your pelvis and ribcage, which can generally handle more force than other parts of your body. However, like airbags, seatbelts can cause serious injuries even while they are protecting you. Be sure to properly adjust your seatbelt so that it rests on your shoulder and not your neck. Make sure it is across your hips and not your stomach. 

Common seatbelt injuries include:

  • Bruises
  • Abrasions
  • Laceration of the liver or spleen
  • Damage to the kidneys or pancreas
  • Fractures of the lumbar spine
  • Bowel injuries
  • Neck injuries
  • Fractured vertebrae
  • Broken clavicle
  • Fractured ribs

Don’t underestimate the potential severity of seatbelt injuries. As with any car wreck, always seek medical attention as soon as possible. And, don’t wait to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer – time is limited to file a claim. If you miss the deadline, you won’t be able to recover any compensation.

Get Help With a Car Accident Law Firm in San Diego, CA If You Have a Seatbelt Injury Claim

Did you sustain a seatbelt injury in a San Diego car accident? Mission Personal Injury Lawyers will evaluate your claim at no cost to you. If you decide to hire us to fight to recover compensation, you only pay us if we are successful in obtaining a financial award for you through a settlement or favorable verdict. With our 99% success rate, we’re confident we can help.

Call now for your free initial consultation. We’re standing by 24/7 to help.

Other Car Accident Claims We Cover in San Diego

Our law firm handles all types of car accident cases involving:

San Diego Car Accident Resources