Utah Auto Law: Is Whiplash a Myth? Are People Just Faking?
Nearly one-third of all motor vehicle accidents are rear-end collisions 1, and it is this type of accident that is responsible for most whiplash injuries.
Some critics of whiplash will go to great lengths to “prove” that whiplash injuries do not exist, especially in low speed collisions, claiming that the forces experienced in low speed collisions are equivalent to 'plopping' down into a chair. 2 However, the myth that low speed collisions are safe was put to rest by by another study which demonstrated that the less damage to a vehicle, the greater the forces were exerted on the head and neck. 3 Engineering test collisions consistently show that the peak vehicle G forces in a collision are approximately twice as high as the average G forces. Furthermore, peak occupant G forces are about twice as large as peak vehicle forces. In fact, an occupant in a low speed collision with no damage to the vehicle may be at a significantly higher risk of injury than an occupant in a collision with a damaged vehicle because the 'damage' to the vehicle is actually absorbing the energy of the impact as opposed to transferring it to the occupants.
Authorities
1. (Dvorak J, Gauchat MH, Valach L. The outcome of surgery for lumbar disc herniation. 1. A 4-17 years’ follow-up with emphasis on somatic aspects. Spine 1988;13:1418-22.)
2. (Allen ME, Weir-Jones I, Motiuk DR et al. Acceleration perturbations of daily living: a comparison to whiplash. Spine 1994;19:1285-1290).
3. (Robbins MC. Lack of relationship between vehicle damage and occupant injury. SAE 970494)
Some critics of whiplash will go to great lengths to “prove” that whiplash injuries do not exist, especially in low speed collisions, claiming that the forces experienced in low speed collisions are equivalent to 'plopping' down into a chair. 2 However, the myth that low speed collisions are safe was put to rest by by another study which demonstrated that the less damage to a vehicle, the greater the forces were exerted on the head and neck. 3 Engineering test collisions consistently show that the peak vehicle G forces in a collision are approximately twice as high as the average G forces. Furthermore, peak occupant G forces are about twice as large as peak vehicle forces. In fact, an occupant in a low speed collision with no damage to the vehicle may be at a significantly higher risk of injury than an occupant in a collision with a damaged vehicle because the 'damage' to the vehicle is actually absorbing the energy of the impact as opposed to transferring it to the occupants.
Authorities
1. (Dvorak J, Gauchat MH, Valach L. The outcome of surgery for lumbar disc herniation. 1. A 4-17 years’ follow-up with emphasis on somatic aspects. Spine 1988;13:1418-22.)
2. (Allen ME, Weir-Jones I, Motiuk DR et al. Acceleration perturbations of daily living: a comparison to whiplash. Spine 1994;19:1285-1290).
3. (Robbins MC. Lack of relationship between vehicle damage and occupant injury. SAE 970494)
Get Help Now - Call 1.877.359.8400.
If you are worried, have questions or concerns, call 1.877.359.8400 to speak with an attorney about your personal injury, wrongful death or medical malpractice case. Or, fill out a form for a free, confidential, no-obligation review by a lawyer.
Get Help Now - Call 1.877.359.8400.
If you are worried, have questions or concerns, call 1.877.359.8400 to speak with an attorney about your personal injury, wrongful death or medical malpractice case. Or, fill out a form for a free, confidential, no-obligation review by a lawyer.