Why You Should Worry About a Seat Belt Bruise in North Carolina 2024

Few things have been responsible for saving more lives in car accidents than seat belts. In a rough car accident, you may feel your torso push up against the seat belt hard, resulting in a nasty-looking bruise on your midsection. While the seat belt can save your life in a car accident, the resulting bruise should not be ignored as a side effect. It could be a sign of further injury. Here’s why you should worry about a seat belt bruise in North Carolina.

Why You Should Worry About a Seat Belt Bruise in North Carolina

North Carolina state law requires that all passengers in a car wear a seat belt. This law does not apply to vehicles that do not have built-in safety belts. Seat belts save lives every day, but they can also cause additional injuries through what’s known as “seat belt syndrome.” Seat belt syndrome is a collective name for various injuries that seat belts can cause when you are involved in a car accident.

It is important that you always go see a doctor after you are in a car accident. They may be able to identify additional injuries that onsite EMTs failed to notice. These injuries may include seat belt syndrome. There is a good chance that your seat belt bruise is nothing more than a seat belt bruise. However, it could also be indicative of further damage. Here are some possible injuries that you could suffer from the sudden physical shock of your seat belt bruising your torso:

• Fractured Ribs: Depending on the severity of your accident, your car may have been forced into a sudden stop so aggressively that your seat belt dug into your torso and literally fractured one or some of your ribs. It may have even broken them. If you are experiencing a very sharp pain in your abdomen, it could be broken ribs, vertebrae, or other bones in your torso.
• Bruised Organs: Car accidents can be unpredictable, as can the injuries that you may sustain from them. The sudden force of the seat belt pressing into your torso could have resulted in a bruised organ or two. It is important that you see a medical professional who can check you for internal injuries, such as a bruised or lacerated organ.
• Muscle Sprains: The force of the seat belt may have brutally injured your muscles to the point of causing a sprain or even a tear. Have your medical professional check for a possible muscle or ligament sprain or tear in your torso.
• Spinal Cord Injury: A spinal cord injury is always serious. Even the slightest damage to the spinal cord can cause life-altering injuries to your body. If you have a complete spinal cord injury, you won’t be able to walk due to permanent paralysis. However, an incomplete spinal cord injury could’ve been caused by the sudden shock of the accident.
• Shoulder Injury: Due to the placement of the seat belt on your body, your car accident may have caused serious injury to your shoulders. This could include a ligament tear, a rotator cuff tear, a bone fracture, or even a pure break. Be sure to tell your doctor about any fears you have if you are experiencing shoulder pain.

FAQs

What Is the Seat Belt Law in North Carolina?

The seat belt law in North Carolina is very strict. Every driver and passenger in a car who is 16 or older must wear a seat belt. Children under the age of 16 must sit in the back seat. Children under eight years old must be secure in a booster seat. Seat belts are in place in most major vehicles as a life-saving precaution, and they often save lives.

What Is the Cost of a Seat Belt Violation in North Carolina?

The cost of violating North Carolina’s seat belt laws is a fine. If you have a passenger under 16 years old who is not properly restrained, your potential fine increases. If you decide to take this matter to court and fight it, you risk additional court costs, with no guarantee that you will successfully get the matter dropped. You may want to avoid violating this law in the future.

How Do You Treat a Seat Belt Bruise?

Largely, you can treat a seat belt bruise with a variety of at-home remedies, such as ice packs, simple rest, and over-the-counter medicines. It depends on the severity of your injury and whether you are feeling some internal discomfort or pain. If you are, you should go see a doctor for further diagnosis, especially if the bruise doesn’t start to heal after a few days. Seat belt bruises can be a sign of a larger, more serious internal problem.

What Are the Complications of a Seat Belt Injury?

The complications of a seat belt injury can be severe, depending on the nature of your injury and the symptoms you may be feeling throughout your body. A seat belt injury can be the external symptom of internal trauma, such as:

• Internal bruising
• Broken bones
• Spinal cord injuries
• Bruised organs
• Hemorrhages

It is vital that you see a doctor after being involved in a car accident so that these injuries can be properly diagnosed.

Reach Out to a Car Accident Lawyer Today

A car accident can be an irritating inconvenience, a devastating catastrophe, and everything in between. If you are involved in a car accident, you may walk away with a significant bruise caused by your seat belt. Sometimes, the bruise is just a bruise. Other times, it’s a sign of a much more serious injury that’s worsening inside your body. If you wish to seek compensatory damages for this injury from the liable party, you should reach out to a car accident lawyer.

At Ganly & Ramer, P.L.L.C., we can help you develop your car accident case, gather the right kind of evidence, and represent your interests in a court of law if it comes to that. Contact us to schedule a consultation with one of our team members.