Every day a gazillion cars zoom along the world's highways and that number continues to increases at an incredible rate of speed. We’re all in a hurry. We drive too fast, follow to close and don’t pay attention anywhere near as much as we should. Because of this, year in and year out, motor vehicle accidents continue to multiply. Recent statistics show that more than 12 million Americans are treated each year for motor vehicle accident injuries. That number continues to increase like wildfire!
THE TYPICAL “WHIPLASH TYPE” INJURY: Approximately 40 to 45% of impacts are caused by the front of one vehicle plowing into the rear of another. This, more than anything else, causes the typical “Whiplash-Type” of tissue damaged injury.
Although tissue damage frequently occurs at the time of the accident, the “symptoms” may not show up right away. Recent tests reveal that when the front of a 3,500-pound car, traveling at only 10 miles per hour, strikes the rear of another vehicle, it can transmit a force of 25 tons to the motor vehicle it struck.
Few people realize that an untreated neck or back injury from a motor vehicle accident is likely to develop into arthritis in later years, adding more pain and disability. In fact, recent studies show that nearly 40% of whiplash victims end up with arthritis within five years of the injury !
When you think of injuries, you think of high-speed accidents, but experts say "Whiplash" also happens in low speed crashes - - even when there’s no damage to the vehicle!
The force to the neck due to a shifting and snapping, forward and backward action, is often up to five times greater than the force of the collision itself, and (unfortunately) the use of seatbelts can speed up the “whipping motion” of the neck, causing even more injury.
YOU’RE RUSHED TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM: The typical Emergency Room is equipped to evaluate life-threatening conditions and provide emergency aid treatment only. The Emergency Room staff focuses on broken bones, hemorrhaging, internal injuries, and “Emergency Situations“. Beyond that, there’s not much else they can do. Unfortunately, a lot of the damage done in a rear impact accident, does not show up in the Emergency Room x-rays. Very often it’s not until several hours (often days!) later that the symptoms of a “Whiplash-Type” of injury becomes apparent.
TREATMENT: This type of an injury should be treated just as aggressively as a broken bone because the potential for long-term consequences can be greater in soft tissue injury than in broken bones. So, what happens to the soft tissue in an accident? The answer to that is even in a slow speed collision, the forces applied to bones, muscles, and joints of the body are clearly capable of inflicting significant injury. Almost all joints are pulled and twisted. Why? Because the body of the occupant is first accelerated forward in his seat. The head remains relatively stationary while the body moves forward underneath. This inflicts tremendous force on the neck. Then, just as the neck is stretched to (or even beyond) its normal limits, the torso has stopped its forward motion, the neck snaps back. When this takes place the head has accelerated up to five times the G-force of the impact - - and then back! Muscles and ligaments can be stretched beyond their breaking strength. Discs can be damaged. Nerve roots or the spinal cord can be injured permanently.
WILL A SOFT TISSUE INJURY HEAL ITSELF?: The answer to that is not a simple “Yes” or “No” because, without immediate and proper treatment, while it often does heal - - it can - - but somewhat imperfectly!
In one study, it was determined that patients who had a whiplash-type of injury, 39-60% of them developed osteoarthritis in the ensuing years.
In another famous study patients were interviewed more than two years following the settlement of their cases. Without the proper care, 45% continued to complain of ongoing pain and disability (in the area of their neck and/or shoulders) which was determined to be directly related to their accident.
WHAT TO DO? You should complain, complain and complain!
Don’t allow yourself to be conned with an answer like, “I’m sorry, I know it hurts but just wait awhile. It’ll go away”! That’s a hogwash of an answer.
You’re entitled to treatment by an “Expert“ and/or a team of them. Ask around (they’re out there) and you’ll find one. No matter how long it takes you must make sure, (when you’re finally released from treatment) that your “Whiplash-Type” injury has been completely repaired. If you don’t than you have only yourself to blame !
DISCLAIMER: This insurance claim article '"THE MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT WHIPLASH-TYPE INJURY" is to help people understand the motor vehicle accident process. Neither Dan Baldyga nor PERFORMANCE ARTICLES make any guarantee of any kind whatsoever; NOR do they purport to engage in rendering any professional or legal service, NOR to substitute for a lawyer, an insurance adjuster, or claims consultant, or the like. Where such professional help is desired it is the INDIVIDUAL’S RESPONSIBILITY to obtain said services.
***************************************************************
Author:
Dan Baldyga has a lifetime of experience in motor vehicle accidents, personal injury and compensation. Over the years Dan has written several book’s on this subject matter. In his books, Dan reveals insurance industry secrets surrounding these types of claims. All the information necessary for you to deal with and handle the above issues are spelled out within the contents of AUTO ACCIDENT PERSONAL INJURY INSURANCE CLAIM (How To Evaluate And Settle Your Loss) found on the internet at http://www.autoaccidentclaims.com or http://www.caraccidentclaims.com. This book also contains BASE (The Baldyga Auto Accident Settlement Formula). THE BASE FORMULA will tell you exactly how many dollars the "Pain and Suffering" you endured are worth
Copyright (c) 2005 By Dan Baldyga. All Rights Reserved
Add Comment
View All
Recent News
