Myths and Facts of Whiplash

Hello! February 2012 will be a month where we highlight topics and issues dealing with automobile accidents and injuries. One of the most common injuries sustained in a car accident is whiplash. What exactly is whiplash you ask? Whiplash is the sudden backward and forward motion of the neck pushing your neck bones, muscles and ligaments beyond their normal range of motion.  

Many people believe that to sustain injury or whiplash during an automobile accident the cars involved must be going fast and have structural damage but the Spine Research Institute of San Diego has shown that to be false. Below are common myths and facts about car accidents that may surprise you!

Myth #1- Just prior to the accident you see the car about to hit you in your rear view mirror and you tense up causing more injury than not tensing up before impact.

Fact: Research on human crash dummies have shown that you are less likely to get injured when tensing up for an accident than if not.

Myth #2- Whiplash injuries only occur in high speed accidents.

Fact: Whiplash injuries occur as a result of the load transmitted to the neck. The threshold of the neck injury in any accident is 5mph. Most car accident injuries occur at speeds below just 12 mph!

Myth #3- Men and women are equally susceptible to injury during a rear-end collision.
Fact: Women are twice(47%) as likely to get injured from whiplash then men. Safety systems are designed for men, and men are three times more likely to be involved in a car crash, leaving women with the short end of the safety stick.

Myth #4- If there's no damage to your car you couldn't possibly have been hurt!

Fact: Vehicle collision damage has little to do with human damage, especially whiplash. The acceleration of the neck when hit from the rear is 2.5 times that of the car! Many insurance companies will argue and try and convince you that because the vehicles sustained little or no visible damage,  the vehicle's occupants could not have been injured. While cars are designed to handle the low speed impact forces, the human body is not.

We hope this has provided some insight into the myths and facts concerning whiplash! Please check back weekly for both announcements and more information about car accidents!

*If you or someone you know has been in a car accident, call us today!  The doctors at Krause Family Chiropractic have extensive training and experience dealing with your injuries following an accident, insurance companies, and attorneys.
408-364-6600
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