| 290,607 road users were killed or injured in the UK in | | | | with a cervical collar, nowadays early mobilisation is |
| 2003, 188,342 of those were the drivers or | | | | encouraged instead. A soft collar may be worn but |
| passengers in cars (Department for Transport). With | | | | only for short periods at a time. Patients may also |
| the amount of cars on our roads multiplying by the | | | | need to take pain medication, muscle relaxants and |
| year it is not surprising that accidents are frequent | | | | anti-depressants. |
| and that injuries such as whiplash affect so many | | | | How can it be prevented? |
| people. Around 20% of rear end accidents result in a | | | | According to a recent study by the Insurance |
| whiplash injury. | | | | Institute for Highway Safety in the United States, |
| The incidence of neck injury to front seat | | | | only eight out of 97 car seats tested went any way |
| passengers is higher (16 per cent) than for rear seat | | | | to preventing whiplash. It is thought that the height |
| passengers (10 per cent) in rear end collisions, and | | | | of the head rest is a crucial aspect of preventing |
| front-seat passengers fare worse for neck sprains | | | | injury. The cars that came out top in the tests |
| (19 per cent) than drivers (15 per cent). (What a Pain | | | | were.o The GM brand Saab, the 9-2X and the 9-3o |
| in the Neck - dotpharmacy.co.uk) | | | | The Volvo S40, S60 and S80o The Jaguar S Type. |
| A whiplash injury is caused when the car driving | | | | Drivers should be reminded however that car |
| behind you crashes into your rear end. The impact of | | | | manufacturers do not have sole responsibility for the |
| the two cars colliding throws your body forward so | | | | prevention of whiplash. Until such a time comes when |
| that your neck and shoulders are under your head; | | | | all vehicles are built with car seats like those in the |
| your head extends forward and tips down a little. | | | | Saab 9-2X, drivers should take a few steps to |
| When you slam your foot on the break your head | | | | protect themselves. A head rest at the correct |
| and body fly back in the opposite direction. This | | | | height for the passenger or driver can reduce the |
| vigorous process happens extremely quickly and | | | | risk of whiplash by around 40-50%. The Insurance |
| often results in an injury. | | | | Bureau of Canada recommends that the centre of |
| Many people suffer from neck pain or tenderness | | | | the headrest be slightly above the top of the driver's |
| after an accident but find that these symptoms | | | | ear. The top of the headrest should be at least as |
| disappear relatively quickly. Other people are not as | | | | high as the top of the driver's head. Ideally, the |
| lucky and can go on to develop serious neck pain. | | | | distance between the headrest and the back of the |
| There are several symptoms of whiplash to look out | | | | driver's head should be 5-10 cm (2-4 inches). |
| for. These are often experienced in the days | | | | Whiplash and compensation |
| preceding an accident.o Headacheso Neck paino Back | | | | If you have been involved in an accident and have |
| paino Shoulder paino Ringing in the earso | | | | sustained a whiplash injury you can normally claim |
| Sleeplessnesso Pain in the arms or handso Abnormal | | | | compensation. Liability for the accident is not usually |
| sensations such as burning or prickling, called | | | | an issue when a driver has rear-ended you. Once the |
| paresthesiaso Depression | | | | whiplash has been proven by medical reports |
| So what is whiplash? | | | | damages can be claimed for loss of earnings, car |
| Whiplash is an injury to the soft tissue in the neck. | | | | damage and any special medical care that you require. |
| Areas of the neck which can be affected are the | | | | provides assistance to people who have been |
| discs and ligaments, cervical muscles, intervertabral | | | | involved in non-fault traffic accidents in the UK. They |
| joints and the roots of the nerves. Most injury to | | | | act quickly to get people back on the road in a |
| soft tissue cannot be seen with an x-ray so | | | | replacement car and if people have been injured then |
| specialised scans may need to be carried out if | | | | Car Accident Adviceline can help them to claim their |
| symptoms persist into the long term. Treatment for | | | | maximum compensation entitlement. |
| people with whiplash used to involved immobilisation | | | | |