Whiplash In Low Speed Vehicle Collisions Does Happen

Whiplash neck injuries are among the fastest growing health problems in the USA today. The ever increasing number of automobiles rolling onto our congested streets and highways, the increased speed of our freeway systems, power brakes, and more powerful engines all contribute to the growing frequency of the type of accident that can result in a whiplash neck injury.

The research crash council of the USAF has demonstrated that the normal neck can withstand a forward snapping of 50 times the force of gravity before producing a major injury, whereas a backward snapping acceleration of only 5 times the force of gravity can be tolerated. And since an auto traveling at only 25 miles per hour creates a force exceeding 3400 pounds, the impact of a crash at this speed will exert several tons of force on the victim’s neck.

A whiplash neck injury occurs as the result of a sudden backward and forward whipping movement of the neck. This sudden, forceful movement often stretches or sprains the ligaments and muscles which hold the spinal segments within a critical range of movement or position. Failure of the holding ligaments to support the spine allows the spinal segments to become displaced, thus altering the normal mechanical balance of the spine. This increased stress results in eventual degenerative disease of the balance of the disc with ’spur’ formation and the ’spurs’ will occlude the spinal nerve openings.