One of the most common issues that can worsen the outcome of a car crash is the failure of vehicle occupants to properly use safety restraints. Many people dislike seat belts and find them uncomfortable, but they can be the most important form of protection in the event of a crash.
Someone without a seat belt on could very easily incur life-altering injuries because the force of the collision throws them from the vehicle. A seat belt keeps someone in place inside the vehicle and could very well save their life.
However, there is a degree of risk involved in seat belt use. In a small number of cases, those kept in a vehicle by safety restraints when a crash occurs develop injuries that doctors may refer to as seatbelt injuries or seat belt syndrome.
Seat belts can injure the torso and upper body
The faster a vehicle travels prior to a crash, the greater the force applied when the seat belt restrains someone during a collision. Oftentimes, seat belt injuries largely consist of bruises or other minor wounds caused by the physical pressure of the seat belt.
Some situations can increase the risk of serious seat belt injuries. High-speed crashes are more likely than low-speed collisions to cause seat belt injuries. Crashes that occur when someone is in an unusual position in their seat might also increase the risk of seat belt injuries. Finally, someone’s age or underlying medical issues could increase their risk of a seat belt injury.
More serious injuries caused by seat belts include broken bones. A seat belt could fracture a collarbone, vertebra in the back or ribs. The worst injuries related to seat belts often involve internal bleeding. Particularly when the injury affects the digestive tract, internal bleeding could potentially prove deadly if someone does not receive a timely diagnosis and appropriate medical interventions.
It is very easy to overlook internal injuries caused by seat belts immediately after a crash. The injury may continue to slowly worsen for many days if someone does not receive appropriate treatment after the collision. Risk factors including underlying issues with bone density or blood clotting could increase the risk of seat belt-related injuries after a crash.
Undergoing a thorough medical evaluation could potentially identify seat belt injuries after a car crash before they worsen. Vehicle occupants who understand that seat belts can injure them even while saving their lives can potentially get the care they need for those injuries in a timely fashion.