Clearwater Car Accident Injuries

Automobile accidents are a real problem in the United States. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 37,261 road fatalities in 2008 alone. When you enter a car, you may not think of the inherent dangers of getting into a piece of metal and propelling yourself over a thin strip of asphalt at upwards of sixty miles an hour, but at the end of the day, driving can be a very hazardous event.

However, not all the dangers of being in a car accident come from the other driver. Faulty equipment contained within your own vehicle can also possible contribute to your injuries. If you or someone you love has been injured in an incident, contact the Clearwater car accident attorney of Tragos, Sartes & Tragos, by calling 727-478-4948.

Seat Belt Injuries

Seat belts are one of the most important safety features in motor vehicles today. They are now mandated as necessary by the Department of Transportation, and they keep millions of people safe in automobile accidents. As helpful as they can be, though, they do not always work properly and sometimes may actually be dangerous to those who wear them.

Most seatbelt malfunctions involve too much slack being in the seatbelt at the time of an accident. Sometimes the slack is the fault of the wearer, though this is less prevalent now thanks to improved seatbelt design. More often, the slack is due to a failure of the seat belt mechanism itself.

In most cases, seat belts are designed to tighten when the car slows down quickly or when there is a large degree of force pulling out on the belt. There is usually a lot of force behind each car accident and it can be painful to be pushed forward into the rigid seat belt.

This force explains why seat belts can be harmful if they are worn by small children. They can break bones in an accident or can even choke a passenger if they are not worn correctly. Seat belts, for all of the good that they do, can also be quite dangerous.

Whiplash Injures

A whiplash injury occurs when a victim is subjected to an abrupt jerking of the head and neck, beyond the neck’s normal range of motion. A whiplash injury can cause damage to neck muscles and ligaments, nerve roots, vertebrae discs, and joints between the vertebrae. This injury is most often sustained after an impact incident, such as a car accident, even at low speeds. The severity of the injury does not always match the severity of the accident; even a low-impact crash can cause the neck to strain or sprain.

After an impact, it is important to seek medical assistance if you experience any of the above symptoms. Serious whiplash injuries can cause long-term disability from restricted head movement and long-term pain.

How a Car Accident Injury Lawyer Can Help

If you or someone you know has been injured as a result of your own car’s faulty equipment during a car accident, you may be entitled to damages. For more information, contact the car accident injury lawyers of the Law Office of Tragos, Sartes & Tragos, P.L.L.C. by calling 727-478-4948.