Seatbelts can protect you from serious and fatal injuries in a vehicle collision. However, they can also cause or contribute a few specific injuries, including whiplash, abdominal injuries, organ damage, and respiratory problems. If you were not wearing a seatbelt, you likely suffered injuries that will take weeks or months to heal. These may include broken bones or a traumatic brain injury from flying forward and striking the steering wheel, windshield, or side window. If you were wearing a seatbelt, you may have avoided life-threatening injuries, but still suffered damages to muscles, ligaments, and/or organs.