Can You Do Anything To Avoid Whiplash Injuries?

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Whiplash is a common side effect of road traffic accidents - even at low speeds. Despite its high frequency as an injury, whiplash isn't inevitable. By taking the proper precautions to prevent it, the driver may also be saving themselves from the pain and inconvenience of whiplash as well as a number of other injuries.

Whiplash is generally sustained as the result of a rear impact in a road accident. The force of the impact forces the spine to stretch beyond its usual range in a motion much like the cracking of a whip. In addition to the potential damage to the vertebrae of the spine, the soft-tissue surrounding them and supporting the neck is forced into an unnatural motion that can result in that tissue being torn, strained or sprained. In addition to severe pain in the neck and spine, whiplash can result in other symptoms, such as dizziness, numbness in the extremities and blurred vision. Usually symptoms reveal themselves in a few hours, but symptoms have been known to appear weeks and months after an impact.

While treatment is available for whiplash sufferers, prevention is undoubtedly better than cure; whiplash can take a long time to recover from and those with the injury can face time away from work, frequently resulting in loss of earnings. There are a number of ways that drivers can reduce the likelihood of sustaining whiplash injuries and, in turn, minimise the risks of sustaining other injuries:

1. Always wear your seatbelt. The risks associated with not wearing a seatbelt are well documented. Aside from being illegal, not wearing a seatbelt leaves you at risk of being thrown from the car and sustaining traumatic injuries. Seatbelts can also reduce the risk of whiplash - but only if worn properly. This means that the belt must be neither too loose, nor too tight. A seatbelt that is not tight enough will not prevent the forward motion of the head and upper body which, in turn results in them snapping back in a whipping motion. In addition to reducing the risk of whiplash, wearing a seatbelt in the proper position can prevent head injuries on the dashboard in front.

2. Ensure your headrest is correctly positioned. Sitting in your seat, check that it is reasonably upright and not angled too far back. Adjust your headrest so that it is as close as possible to the back of your head. If it is possible, the headrest should be touching the back of your head. Even if this is not possible, it should be no more than 2 - 3 inches away. Make sure that the top of your headrest is no lower than the top of your head. A correctly positioned headrest will interrupt the whipping motion of the spine and reduce the risk of soft-tissue damage.

3. Drive carefully. Signalling in good time, avoiding sudden braking, anticipating the driver in front and maintain a safe distance between the car ahead of you are simple but effective ways to ensure that you are not the victim of an accident in the first place.

While accidents happen, taking adequate precautions to minimise injury can save you a lot of pain, as well as time and money.


About the Author:
We deal in a range of claims, including whiplash and compensation.



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