Types of chest muscle injuries

A 2017 study by the Department for Transport found that 96.5% of drivers were observed using a seatbelt compared to 95.3% in 2014. These findings exhibit the willingness of British drivers to embrace road safety and reduce the number of fatalities on the roads. Sadly though, many people still suffer from injuries despite wearing a seatbelt during a road traffic accident. Many of these incidents occur to seatbelts malfunctioning or failing due to:

• Faults with the locking mechanism
• The release button being knocked accidentally
• Design defects

Frequent seatbelt injuries to the chest include:

• Visceral injuries
• Soft tissue damage
• Skeletal injuries (e.g. chest, rib and sternum fractures)
• Skin abrasions and lacerations

Symptoms of chest muscle injuries

There are a variety of symptoms that can occur as a result of a chest muscle injury, but some of the most common symptoms include:

• Stiffness
• Bleeding
• Painful or laboured breathing
• Tenderness, swelling and/or bruising
• Heart, lung or vascular pain
• Discolouration of the skin
• Chest/back pain

The amount of compensation you receive will depend upon the severity of the symptoms that you are experiencing. It may be possible for your solicitor to account for any loss of earnings as part of your claim. This is particularly relevant if you are unable to work or have a reduced capacity following the incident that led to your injury.

WORK-RELATED SEATBELT INJURIES

Seatbelt injuries that are sustained by employees during working hours in a work vehicle may provide grounds for a claim. Every case is unique, but it could involve claiming against:

• The driver of the vehicle
• The employer
• The seatbelt manufacturer

WHAT EVIDENCE IS REQUIRED TO MAKE A CLAIM?

Your first priority should be to seek medical attention following an accident. Your doctor, or another medical professional, will be able to draft a report citing the severity of your injury and offer the treatment or care that you require to make a recovery. This list is a rough outline of the type of evidence you might need to support a successful claim:

• A medical report issued by a medical professional
• Witness details
• Photographs of injuries
• Record of your expenses – make sure you keep hold of any receipts
• Third-party information (the parties involved in the accident)
• A detailed written account of the incident

Make your seatbelt injury claim with us today

Call 0333 358 2345 for confidential, expert advice.