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What are some of the common car accident seat belt injuries?

Settle this debate between my friends. They say wearing a seat belt is more dangerous than *not* wearing a seat belt. I think that’s crazy talk. So what are common car accident seat belt injuries, and who is right?

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Matt Terzi · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Your friends arguing that seat belts are dangerous are definitely incorrect. While it’s true that car accident seat belt injuries are common, injuries resulting from not wearing a seat belt are a whole lot worse in the vast majority of cases.
Here are some of the common car accident seat belt injuries:
  • Bruising, especially markings commonly referred to as “seat belt sign” that leave marks on your torso and across your lap
  • Shoulder issues, including bruising and even muscle damage
  • Scrapes and cuts
  • Rarely, bone and spinal injuries are attributed to seat belts, but these types of injuries are not as common as the others on the list
These are uncomfortable and even painful injuries, but rarely are they life-threatening. The same can’t be said for not wearing your seat belt in a car accident. Unrestrained drivers and passengers can be hurled in any direction, or even thrown out of the moving car, in an accident.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says that
47 percent of people killed in car accidents
in 2019 weren’t wearing seat belts. Wearing a seat belt reduces your odds of fatal injuries by 45 percent and nonfatal injuries by 50 percent.
There’s simply no logical argument to be made against wearing a seat belt. It’s not just important because it’s the law. Unless you’re a professional stunt driver, car accidents aren’t something you plan ahead for. They happen when you least expect them, and even the very best and most talented drivers on the road are susceptible to crashes.
When a car accident is happening, seat belts and airbags save lives. And in the aftermath of a crash, you want dependable
car insurance
from a trusted insurance provider to help you financially recover.
The
Jerry
app is ready to help you find great insurance coverage, and save you hundreds of dollars per year or more in the process. Download the app and give it a try. And please, please, please convince your friends to wear their seat belts!
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