Jun 26 2008
Whiplash is one of the common injuries from car accidents
Whiplash is one of the most common injuries suffered in automobile accidents. “Whiplash” refers to the injury that occurs as the result of the head and neck being whipped back and forth sharply.
Studies have shown that the extent of a whiplash injury is determined by several factors.
The first factor is whether the vehicle occupant was prepared for the collision. If the person had a chance to realize that an accident was about to occur and to brace for it, the injuries are usually somewhat less severe than if there was no preparation.
Another factor is the type of motor vehicle accident. Rear-end collisions have been shown to be much more damaging than collisions involving front or side impacts. Although the injuries from front and side impacts can be serious, there are physiological limitations that prevent injuries from becoming worse than they would otherwise be.
For example, in front impact automobile accidents, the forward movement of the person’s head is stopped when the chin hits the chest. In the same way, in side impact auto accidents, the person’s shoulders limit the sideways movement of the head.
In contrast, with a rear-end collision, the backwards movement of the head is not stopped at all until the person strikes the seat back, which is far beyond normal physiological limits, resulting in more severe injuries.
The last major factor in determining the severity of whiplash injuries in a car accident is the position of the person’s head at the time of the collision. If the person’s head was turned to the left or right, more serious injuries usually resulted than if the person was looking straight ahead.
This type of information can be vital in obtaining fair compensation from an insurance company after an accident, and it’s information that you can be sure the insurance adjuster will not share with you.
It’s another reason why, if you have been hurt in a car wreck, you need an experienced personal injury lawyer. I’m here to help, whether your accident was in Dallas, Ft. Worth, Houston, San Antonio, Austin, or any other part of the state of Texas. To contact me, click here! I’ll be glad to visit with you personally about your case.
