Whiplash occurs when your neck is jolted back and/or forth violently hyperextending your neck muscles and vertebrae. Whiplash commonly occurs in car accident victims. Statistics show that 10% of people who experience a whiplash injury due to a violent car collision become permanently disabled. One of the most troubling facts about whiplash injuries is that pain and discomfort may not be felt until days after the accident wherein the victim’s head was hyperextended or hyperflexed. This is why it is very important you see a doctor after any type of accident where your head and neck may have been violently jerked.
There is no way around it; automobile accidents happen every day and often result in whiplash injuries. Driving precautions are often ignored and regulations unenforced. With more than six million automobile accidents occurring every year in the United States, it is often a wonder why more safety regulations are not implemented to provide drivers more protection from whiplash injuries. With a wider variety of safety measures, we may yet lower the risk of whiplash and other injuries that result from car accidents.
Common reasons for car crashes resulting in whiplash injuries include:
