The first recorded seat belt injury was diagnosed in 1956. Seat belts were invented in the 19 th Century but didn’t make their way into American cars until the 1950s. We look analyze actual settlements and verdicts in cases involving seat belt injuries. We also explain how much compensation you can expect in a seat belt injury lawsuit based on the type of injury. We discuss how seat belt injuries occur and different types of seat belt injuries. Szadkowski, MA., Bolte, RG.On this page, our lawyers look at injuries caused by seat belts in auto accidents.

Seatbelt use and patterns of central nervous system injury in children. Association between the “seat belt sign” and intra-abdominal injury in children with blunt torso trauma. Sokolove, PE., Kuppermann, N., Holmes, JK. Safety-belt injuries in children with lap-belt ecchymosis: CT findings in 61 patients. Seat-belt injuries in children involved in motor vehicle crashes. Newman, KD., Bowman, LM, Eichelberger, MR et al. Incidence and clinical significance of abdominal wall bruising in restrained children involved in motor vehicle crashes. Lutz, N., Nance, ML., Kallan, ML., et al. Chance fractures in the pediatric population J Neurosurg Pediatr 2011 8(8):189-97 Johnson, DL, Falci, S The diagnosis and treatment of pediatric lumbar spine injuries caused by rear seat lap belts. Seat belt syndrome in children: A case report and review of the literature Pediatr Emerg Care 2001 17(6):474-477 Is the “Seat Belt Sign” Associated With Serious Abdominal Injuries in Pediatric Trauma? J Trauma 2009 67(1): S34-36ĭurbin, DR., Arbogast, KB, Moll, EK. Association between the Seat Belt Sign and Intra-abdominal Injuries in Children With Blunt Torso Trauma in Motor Vehicle Collisions Acad Em Med 2014 21(11):1240-1248Ĭhidester, S., Rana, A., Lowell, W. J Pediatr Surg 2001 36(5):760-2īorgialli, DA., Ellison, AM, Ehrlich, P et al. Abdominal injuries associated with thoraco-lumbar fractures after motor vehicle collision. Lapbelt injuries and the seatbelt syndrome in paediatric spinal cord injury. The combination of a seat belt sign, intra-abdominal injury and spinal injury is known as seat belt syndrome.Īchildi, O., Betz, RR., Grewal, H.

Even where no pain or tenderness is associated with the seat belt sign, 2% of injured children require acute surgical intervention.

It is associated with increased ( ~RR=5.5) requirement for acute interventions such as therapeutic laparotomy, angiographic embolisation, blood transfusion for intra-abdominal haemorrhage, administration of IV fluids for two or more nights in patients with pancreatic or gastrointestinal injuries, as well as an increased risk of death.

Where spinal fractures occur, around 18% are associated with paraplegia.

It is associated with an absolute risk of spinal injury of up to 50%.It is associated with an absolute risk of solid organ injury of 9-21% however, two large prospective trials have found no significant increase in relative risk for solid organ injury between matched patients with or without a seat belt sign.The most common site of intestinal injury is the jejunum, followed by the duodenum, ilium, and caecum.In contrast, intestinal perforations are believed to be caused by increased intraluminal pressure combined with compression of a short segment of bowel. Mesenteric tears are thought to be due to direct tissue compression between the belt and the spinal column.Small mesenteric tears and perforation are the most common hollow viscus injury.It is associated with an absolute risk of gastrointestinal injury of 11-25% this represents a relative risk increase of ~9.4 – 12.8 compared to children without a seat belt sign.The presence of a seat belt sign in children is important because:

The seat belt sign – an “area of ecchymoses, erythema, or abrasions sustained secondary to seat belt use” – has been associated with an increased risk of intra-abdominal and lumbar spine injury. What is the significance of the seat belt sign?

Seat belt sign trauma