Seatbelt Injury

The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. in Buffalo, New York is committed to providing the highest level of personal injury service to people who have suffered from seatbelt injuries in Buffalo, New York; Niagara Falls, New York; Rochester, New York and other parts of New York State.

Since 2005, The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has represented people who were seriously injured in car, SUV and truck accidents in Buffalo, New York. Although the injuries that someone may face following an accident vary greatly, injuries caused by a seatbelt or whiplash injuries to the neck are exceptionally common.

Seatbelts are designed to protect passengers in a car accident, holding them in the car during moments of sudden change of momentum or force on the vehicle from another. However, this lifesaving tool may become the cause of an additional injury when you are involved in an accident.

A number of factors could contribute to a serious seatbelt injury, including:

1. The severity of the impact;
2. Whether the restraints were exceptionally tight;
3. Whether the seatbelt malfunctioned during the crash;
4. Whether the seatbelt was fastened and placed appropriately; and
5. Whether the seatbelt had a manufacturing defect.

Jed Dietrich, Esq., a recognized Best Lawyer of America and New York Super Lawyer, and his highly experienced legal team recognize that seatbelt injuries can occur due to another’s fault. The Dietrich Law Firm P.C.’s team of highly experienced and top rated Buffalo, New York seatbelt injury attorneys will gather all of the facts and evidence surrounding your incident, to build the strongest case possible to obtain maximum compensation for your seatbelt injuries in Buffalo, New York and beyond. This includes the police report, medical records, photographs, eyewitness accounts and the manufacturer’s production data and past track record of seatbelt defects.

Jed Dietrich, Esq. and his team of top rated Buffalo, New York personal injury attorneys will fight to obtain you the maximum compensation for your injuries. The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has obtained over $175 million for its clients. We fight every day to help the people of Western New York get the compensation that they deserve after a serious personal injury.

A seatbelt is designed to hold a person’s torso in place during a forceful accident. This helps to prevent a person from being ejected from the vehicle through the windshield. However, although the use of a seatbelt can save a person’s life, often times it causes some residual injuries. These include:

1. Fractured Ribs

Fractured or bruised ribs are among the more common seatbelt injuries. The seatbelt’s restraining force can exert enough power to break ribs. Broken ribs can cause excruciating pain for weeks or months. It is important to seek immediate treatment for a fractured rib because the dislocated bone may interfere with the functioning of the heart or may even puncture the lungs.

2. Chest and Sternum Injuries

A seatbelt is positioned over your chest and sternum area. As a result, when a vehicle suddenly and forcefully stops, the seatbelt can injure this area. The sternum bone is attached to the ribs and is located in the middle of the chest. The risk posed by this injury is high because the sternum is located close to the lungs and heart, both of which are vital organs.

3. Inflamed Shoulders

The soft tissue in the shoulder could be injured because of the force of the seatbelt in a car crash in Buffalo, New York. This force may be powerful enough to cause a tear in the shoulder muscle fibers or tendons, particularly the rotator cuff. A severe shoulder injury can cause a person prolonged periods of pain and inflammation and require extensive medical treatment and physical therapy.

4. Abdominal Injuries

Although the abdominal region is not an immediate area of impact from a seat belt, the overall force of the accident may injure the abdominal soft tissue as well as the surrounding organs. Sometimes a person involved in a car, truck or SUV accident may not experience immediate abdominal pain, but the pain may progress later on with swelling, inflammation or worsening of an internal injury.

5. Neck and Head Injuries

The upper portion of a seatbelt is designed to stabilize a person’s torso in the event of a car, truck or SUV accident. This leaves the head unsecured and can result in rapid back and forth movement of the head during a crash, often referred to as whiplash. If the seatbelt is used improperly, such as being placed behind a person’s torso, the force of a collision can cause a person’s head to be thrown against the steering wheel, resulting in a severe head or neck injury.

6. Lacerations and Abrasions

Serious seatbelt injuries often result in internal organ damage, but some may also cause external injuries. The belt’s sharp and rough surface could rub across the skin, causing abrasions, lacerations and cuts.

Every day Jed Dietrich, Esq. and his top rated team of elite Buffalo, New York seatbelt injury attorneys strive to provide the highest level of personal injury service to the people of Western New York and to protect their legal rights. Contact us today at 716-839-3939 so that we can explain your legal options and devise the right strategy to ensure you can obtain the maximum damages from those who are responsible for your injuries.

The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. is proud of its track record of legal accomplishments, which include several multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for our clients. Contact us today at 716-839-3939 to find out how we can help you. We are available 24 hours per day and 7 days per week.

People involved in car, truck and SUV accidents in Buffalo, New York should remember that seatbelt injuries and other bodily injuries may not always be immediately apparent. You should be alert to certain signs and symptoms that could point to a possible seatbelt injury and seek immediate medical treatment if necessary.

Accident victims should be alert to signs and symptoms such as:

1. Internal Bleeding

If you notice traces of blood in your stool or urine, it could be indicative of internal organ damage caused by the force of a seatbelt. The bladder could suffer damage with too much compression. Colon obstruction or endometriosis could also occur because of seatbelt trauma, resulting in constipated stools with blood. Traces of blood with coughing or vomiting may indicate a respiratory tract injury, lung damage or abdominal problems.

2. Loss of Strength in the Legs

A person in a Buffalo, New York car, truck or SUV accident may suffer damage to the spinal nerve, abdominal muscles and lower back muscles as a result of a seatbelt injury. This can create weakness in one or both legs. Weakness or dizziness may also be a symptom of internal organ damage or shock.

3. Strains and Bruises

The forceful pulling of the seatbelt in a collision can cause muscular strains and bruising in the area of the body that the seatbelt was in contact with. Skin may sometimes become discolored in the affected area.

4. Breathing Obstructions

Following a seatbelt injury, a person may sometimes find it difficult to breathe. This may happen if the organs within the chest suffered damage because of the force of the pull of a seatbelt. Lung or heart damage could be responsible for obstructed breathing.

5. Stiffness in the Neck
Soreness in the neck may commonly be caused by seatbelt pressure. If the soreness is accompanied by a stiff neck that lasts longer than usual, it will require medical attention. When the head snaps back and forth while the torso is held in place, a whiplash injury may occur. If the whiplash injury resulted in spinal damage, the pain and stiffness in the neck may become increasingly unbearable.                                                                        
6. Abdominal and Pelvic Pain

When the lap belt delivers a blunt force across the kidneys, the initial symptoms could include pain in the abdomen and in the region between the ribs and hips. Kidney damage, if left untreated, could result in infections, internal bleeding and even kidney failure. Therefore, even if you are feeling fine after a seatbelt injury, it is important to seek medical treatment.

A seatbelt can help save your life after a car, truck or SUV accident in Buffalo, New York and beyond, but it cannot prevent all injuries. If you were injured in a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you want the best personal injury lawyer in Buffalo, New York to fight for the compensation that you deserve. Jed Dietrich, Esq., a recognized Best Lawyer of America and New York Super Lawyer, and his team of top rated team of elite Buffalo, New York seatbelt injury attorneys will battle for the maximum compensation for your injuries. Contact us today at 716-839-3939 for your free consultation.

Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at 716-839-3939 so that our aggressive, tenacious and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in Buffalo, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!