The crash force of an accident is far more powerful and destructive than many people understand. According to car accident experts, A 140-pound motorist becomes an astonishing 6,300-pound force in an accident at only 45 miles per hour. In a collision, this force propels a vehicle occupant forward and then snaps them back against the seat, placing the body’s musculoskeletal structures under tremendous strain and causing an internal collision of organs and bones.
Seatbelts inarguably reduce traffic accident fatalities, saving nearly 15,000 lives in a single recent year. However, despite their life-saving propensities, a seatbelt can also cause specific types of recognizable injuries in a Washington car accident. Make sure to speak with an experienced Arlington car accident attorney for legal guidance in these situations.
What Types of Washington Car Accident Injuries are Caused by Seatbelts?
Washington’s traffic laws require all vehicle occupants over the age of 16 to wear seatbelts. Medical providers commonly recognize the signs of seatbelt injuries after an accident, referring to this collection of injuries as “seatbelt syndrome.” Common injuries caused by seatbelts during an accident include the following:
- Abrasions and bruising along the seatbelt lines
- Chest injuries, such as cracked or broken ribs, fractures of the sternum, clavicle, and ribs, and collapsed lungs
- Abdominal injuries such as internal organ damage to the intestines, liver, kidneys, and spleen, and internal bleeding
- Whiplash and other neck injuries
- Soft-tissue injuries to the shoulder and neck
- Lower back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
In rare cases, the force of a catastrophic crash causes injury to the aorta in the heart, including deadly aortic ruptures.
Who Is at Fault for Seatbelt Injuries In Washington Car Accidents?
When a car accident victim in Washington suffers serious injuries, including seatbelt injuries, they have a right to compensation for the related damages, like medical expenses, lost earnings, future income loss, and compensation for pain and suffering. Under Washington’s pure comparative negligence system, an injury victim can recover compensation from all parties who contributed to the accident or the severity of their injuries. Common liable parties in car accident claims that include seatbelt injuries include the following:
- A careless or reckless driver
- A negligent road maintenance or road-planning agency
- The manufacturer of a defective seatbelt
- A negligent seatbelt installer
With compelling evidence that a defective or poorly designed seatbelt caused or contributed to the severity of Washington car accident injuries, an injury victim can recover compensation from all liable parties, including the vehicle or seatbelt manufacturer.
Proving liability for seatbelt accident injuries in Washington requires evidence demonstrating that the at-fault party owed a duty of care to the injury victim; they breached this duty through negligence, and their negligent breach of duty directly caused the injury. Finally, the injury victim must demonstrate that they suffered damages from the injury.
What Damages Are Available In a Seatbelt Injury Claim In Washington?
Car accident injuries, including seatbelt injuries, are expensive to treat, often involving painful medical procedures and lengthy recovery times. A successful car accident claim recovers damages such as the following:
- Reimbursement for medical expenses
- Anticipated future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Future lost earnings or diminished earning capacity
- Compensation for pain and suffering
Catastrophic injury damages also sometimes apply, such as compensation for scarring, organ loss, or loss of enjoyment of life.
How Can a Washington Car Accident Lawyer Help Me?
Instead of leaving your case in the hands of powerful insurance adjusters who are focused on maximizing their company’s profits at your expense, contact Wells Trumbull to learn about your rights and legal options to recover full compensation for your damages, including for seatbelt injuries in a Washington car accident. A personal injury lawyer in Arlington is here for you.