Bruising From a Seat Belt After an Accident? Improve Your Claim
After a car accident, you may not notice any injuries other than seat belt bruising. Many people ignore bruising from the seat belt after an accident, assuming this doesn’t equate to an injury.
However, you should not ignore these seat belt marks. Bruising could indicate an additional underlying injury from the accident. You should always see a doctor after a car accident that was serious enough to cause seat belt trauma. You may find you have significant injuries that could lead you to decide to file a personal injury lawsuit, such as neck and back pain.
Potential Seat Belt Injuries
Even though seat belt usage cuts down on certain injuries in car accidents, seat belt safety devices could lead to other specific injuries. The possibilities for seat belt injuries include:
- Bruising
- Abrasions
- Internal organ damage
- Fractured collarbone or ribs
- Shoulder soft tissue damage
- Chest injuries
- Abdominal injuries
- Whiplash
The impact of the seat belt straps as your body tries to fly forward in the crash can lead to these types of injuries – especially whiplash. The same design benefits that allow the seat belt to hold you in place during the force of the accident can cause injuries.
Such injuries can lead to seat belt discomfort for days and weeks after the accident. However, these injuries are typically less serious than what could happen if you suffered an ejection from the vehicle because of the force of the crash. This makes the seat belt a key piece of safety gear when worn properly.
Why Bruising From a Seat Belt After an Accident Could Indicate Additional Injuries
First responders may recommend that you go to the hospital after a car accident in Florida. Even if you don’t think you have serious injuries and turn down an ambulance transport, you should seek medical care soon afterward. You can see your personal doctor or you can travel to the hospital on your own.
If you didn’t go to the hospital after the crash but you notice bruising several hours later or the next day, a doctor’s exam can help you determine the severity of your injuries. Bruising from a seat belt after an accident could indicate:
- Internal injuries: If you have an injury to your liver or spleen, visible bruising can indicate this kind of internal organ damage.
- Head injuries: If you have bruising from the seat belt near the neck, you may have some sort of head or brain injury from the force of the impact.
- Expanding bruising: If the bruise’s size noticeably expands overnight, this is a sign that the internal bleeding is continuing, meaning you need medical attention.
Seeking an Injury Claim
Bruising can be quite painful and can limit your ability to do daily tasks or work. This discomfort could contribute to a pain and suffering claim in your car accident case.
If you are considering filing a personal injury lawsuit against the driver who caused the accident and your injuries, you need a medical exam. The insurance company wants to see a doctor’s diagnosis before discussing an injury claim. Your car accident attorneys also need a doctor’s diagnosis to help prove pain and suffering in your car accident injury case.
Contact Lyons & Snyder Personal Injury Attorneys for Help With Your Car Accident Injury Case
Suffering injuries in a car accident can leave you unable to work and needing ongoing medical care. Even if you think your injuries are minor, you may find that you are struggling to recover. When you have bruising from a seat belt after the accident, this could be a sign of additional injuries that require a thorough medical examination.
After medical hardships, Lyons & Snyder is ready to help you file a personal injury lawsuit. Call us at 954-462-8035 or contact us online for a free consultation with an experienced Florida car accident attorney.
