This is quite a buzz term for many people, but in the area of personal injury, particularly in automobile accidents, this is no stranger. This is a very common injury experienced by drivers and passengers of automobiles that have been hit from behind. It is a serious kind of soft tissue injury because of the debilitating effects it can do to the victim.

In medical terms, a whiplash is a neck sprain caused by hyper extension or flexion of the spinal cord, particularly in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar areas. When another vehicle collides from the rear end of your vehicle, an impulsive strain on the vertebral column is caused, resulting to tears or stretches in the ligaments and the spinal cord tissue. What happens is that the external force from the collision causes the head to snap forward then back, creating a force to the spine that can amount to over 500 kilograms in just milliseconds. Since this force is too much for the spine to handle, disk tearing and herniation can instantly occur, although in some cases symptoms may not be felt until days later. It will really depend on the severity of the condition and the position of the passenger that will determine the effect of the whiplash injury in the long run.

Victims may suffer aching pain in the neck and the back, with frequent headaches, dizziness and a stinging sensation to arms and legs similar to being stung by pins and needles. For severe whiplash injuries, effects can be restricted head movement, persistent pain and spondylosis. Physicians may have to administer painkillers or homeopathic methods such as acupuncture to relieve the pain.

Whiplashes can also happen not only from motor collisions, but also from rides in amusement parks like bump cars and roller coasters, sports injuries and from other modes of transportation such as airplanes. Babies often suffer whiplashes too if they are carried improperly, since their nervous system is still underdeveloped, leading to shaken baby syndrome. And a sudden jerk on the head like double-takes can even induce a whiplash.

Today efforts are being made by car manufacturers to offer protection for passengers from whiplashes. Car seats are now being redesigned with head rests and specialized whiplash protection devices by some famous car manufacturers such as Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Toyota. Although the effectiveness of these devices and redesigning of car seats still remain controversial, it has nonetheless been the growing preferred option by many drivers when buying a vehicle.

By: J Matthews

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For more information about Spinal Cord Injury and other personal injury cases, visit our Los Angeles Lawyers site.

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There can often be problems with the diagnosis of whiplash injuries, due to the fact that soft tissue damage does not show up on normal x-rays and scans, and so doctors often make their diagnosis based on the pain felt by the victim

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Whiplash injuries occur when there is a sudden backward movement of the neck (“hyperextension”) followed by a sudden forward movement of the neck (“hyperflexion”). The most common cause of whiplash is when you are in a car that is hit from behind.

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Those men and women who choose to serve their country in the military unfortunately run a higher risk of incurring a traumatic brain injury (TBI) than those civilians who might be exposed to less risk. One reason for this is that military personnel are under a high risk for being involved in car accidents, which are the most common cause of all TBIs. In addition, military personnel are consistently at risk of being injured by powerful munitions, which can also cause a brain injury through concussive force. Though military service does exposed personnel to the risk of a penetrative brain injury, such as caused by a bullet or shrapnel, an even greater risk exists for a TBI caused by a concussive blast wave as a result of an explosive. The high occurrence of explosions due to improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in combat theaters such as Iraq and Afghanistan means American troops in the field are at a high risk of incurring a TBI.

Afghanistan, Iraq Conflicts a Major Risk Factor for Traumatic Brain Injury

We now know those who have served in Afghanistan or Iraq are at a much higher risk of TBI than combat veterans from previous wars. In the Vietnam War, 14 to 18 percent of all veterans had a brain injury. Today, the Walter Reed Army Medical Center says 31 percent of those admitted between January 2003 and May 2005 had some kind of brain injury. A 2005 study in the New England Journal of Medicine attributed these higher numbers in part to advancements in munitions, especially improvised explosive devices, and in part to improvements in body armor, which protects soldiers from what would previously have been a fatal penetrative wound, but not from a nonfatal blast injury.

Misdiagnosed/Undiagnosed Traumatic Brain Injury in Soldiers

Because the symptoms of a traumatic brain injury often do not appear until weeks after the injury is sustained, it is not uncommon for a TBI to go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. This is especially true when the symptoms of a TBI are subtle, such as a personality change or emotional problems, which are easy for strangers to miss. There does exist some evidence that such symptoms may occasionally be misdiagnosed as pure psychological, or even a result of a soldier’s malingering, partly due to the lack of resources and traumatic brain injury expertise that combat doctors might be forced to deal with.

And as Commander James Dunne, lead trauma surgeon at the National Naval Medical Center, observed at a 2006 summit of military physicians, the long-term consequences of an undiagnosed TBI can be devastating. Those servicemen and women with an undiagnosed brain injury can lose all-too-important treatment time, which can prolong recovery time and possibly cause serious personal complications and setbacks. Because side effects of a traumatic brain injury include behavioral and emotional problems, especially depression, TBIs can hold discharged soldiers back from reintegrating into civilian society or even from continued success in the armed services.

A 1996 medical study showed that a behavior-related discharge from the military was 1.8 times more likely for a TBI patient than for a soldier without a TBI. Trouble with motor skills, memory and the senses, some of the more common side effects of a TBI, can also severely hamper a veteran’s ability to find a job, care for family members, or perform other vital life tasks. And without a diagnosis, military TBI patients may be liable for tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of medical bills, on top of lost wages.

Proper helmets and body armor, particularly the newest Kevlar armor, remain the best way to prevent a traumatic brain injury among those who serve in the military. It is also important to have rapid diagnosis and quickly implemented treatment of a TBI to prevent secondary injuries due to the chemical and physical changes to the brain that can accompany a TBI, swelling for example. It can also minimize the cost, both personal and financial, of the injury to the soldier and his or her loved ones. If you believe that you or one of your loved ones might have an undiagnosed service-related TBI, an experienced brain injury attorney can help you get the help and compensation you deserve.

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The ‘Bottom Line’ regarding ‘Whiplash Crash Facts’ (accumulated during 2004 – - and including all the previous years) are as follows:

There are eight serious and absolute facts impacting and regarding that which is today identified as a ‘whiplash’ injury.  They are as follows:

#1. The ‘Threshold’ for cervical spine soft tissue injury becomes a reality at 5 MPH.

#2. Most injuries occur at speeds below 12 MPH.

#3. Crashed cars can often withstand collision speeds of 10 MPH (some even more) without sustaining damage. (THUS: The concept of ‘No Property Damage – No Cash’ has absolutely been invalidated)!

#4. A delay in the onset of symptoms has been found to be the ‘Norm’ rather than the ‘Exception’.

#5. Mild traumatic brain injury can be the result of a Whiplash -Type injury. (These symptoms are often referred to as, ‘Post Concussion Syndrome’). #6. Up to 10% of victims of ‘Whiplash’ become totally disabled !

#7. Of the 31 important whiplash studies since 1956 (19 of them executed since 1990) regarding patients from all vectors of motor vehicle accident collision impacts (be they rear, frontal, or side) it was found that ‘over 60% of them’ needed long-term medical follow-up.

#8. In 2003 several million Americans suffered a ‘Whiplash-Type’ injury. This figure flows into the stratosphere each and ever day at an alarming rate of speed!

TIME NEEDED TO RECOVER

Studies have proven that 45% of the victims remained symptomatic at 12 weeks and 25% remained symptomatic at 6 months. The most minor cases needed at least 8 weeks to recover. The time needed to stabilize in the more severe cases took 17 weeks. THUS: The written (and often declared) notion that ‘Whiplash Injuries Heal In 6 To 8 Weeks’ is just not true !

CHILDREN AND THE ‘WHIPLASH-TYPE’ INJURY:

Youngsters who have had Whiplash-Type injuries display sleep disturbances and nightmares, difficulties in talking to parents and friends, mood disturbances, poor academic performance and specific fears when it came to impact related play.

ANOTHER SERIOUS CONCLUSION:

Children who have been involved in motor vehicle accidents are often neglected as having had ‘Any various types of injury’, when in actuality, they suffer from the same symptoms as adults. As a matter of fact, they’re at a greater risk for damages – - especially when it comes to ‘WHIPLASH’ !

THE FIVE MOST COMMON MYTHS AS APPLIED TO ‘WHIPLASH’

#1. Low speed impact crashes don’t cause injuries. #2. Injuries heal in 6 to 12 weeks. #3. A patients pre-injury psychological makeup affects recovery.#4. The greater the vehicle damage the greater the occupant injury.#5. An ‘Accident Re-Constructionist’ can predict injury potential. All five of these ‘Conclusions’ have been proved to be totally incorrect !

THREE SOLID ‘INJURY-CRASH-FACTS’

#1. Most injuries occur at speeds below 12 MPH.#2. Rear-end impacts of 6 MPH to 12 MPH cause the most injuries. #3. Between 1 and 2 years post-injury, 22% of patient’s conditions have not returned to ‘Normal’.

NINE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT WHIPLASH ‘RISK-FACTORS’

#1. DEGENERATIVE DISEASE: Headaches and/or neck injury pain (for whatever reasons) prior to the crash. #2. PRE-EXISTING HEALTH PROBLEMS: These can positively lead to even greater pain. (For example: A solid Arthritis situation will always lead to the severity of the injury and the pain).#3. VEHICLE SIZE: Even if both are about the same size an 8 MPH impact produces two times the force of gravity. If one is greater than the size of another the Gravity-Force becomes monumental! #4. HEADREST POSITION: The injury becomes much worse if it’s too far away. It must be close enough to catch the head in time – - or about 2 inches. (Over 98% of the headrests are more than 2 inches from the head). #5. POSITION OF HEAD AT IMPACT: If not positively straight (it rarely is) all the G Forces are localized to one side of the spine, substantially increasing the severity of injuries. #6. AGE: How old one is plays a crucial role regarding a ‘Whiplash-Type’ of injury. Why? Because as the body becomes older, ligaments become less pliable, muscles are weaker and less flexible plus there’s a decreased range of motion. #7. WOMEN AND CHILDREN: They injure more seriously than men because they have smaller necks. They may also be too close to the steering wheel, airbag and/or are wearing an improper fitting shoulder harness. #8. NON-USE OF: The motor vehicle’s shoulder harness. #9. FAILURE TO WEAR A SEATBELT !

ALWAYS REMEMBER YOUR MEDICAL PAYMENTS COVERAGE

YOU MUST READ AND UNDERSTAND ALL THERE IS TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR MOTOR VEHICLE INSURANCE ‘MEDICAL PAYMENTS’ COVERAGE: This coverage pays all Medical (and often even funeral expenses) for you, your spouse and even relatives living in your home, and/or others who are injured while operating your motor vehicle.

HERE’S A ‘BIGGIE’ THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE NOT AWARE OF: You and your resident family members may also be covered as pedestrians regarding the payment of your medical bills – - should you have been struck and injured by a motor vehicle.

PLUS: WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR MOTOR VEHICLES ‘MEDICAL PAYMENTS’ COVERAGE – - HERE ARE TWO HUGE FACTS YOU MUST INVESTIGATE: #1. You’re usually paid (regardless of who was at fault for the accident) up to the limit of the coverage you’ve selected. #2. The coverage often extends to expenses incurred – - within the first three years of the accident !

Copyright (c) 2004 By Daniel G. Baldyga

DISCLAIMER: The only purpose of this article THE MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT ‘WHIPLASH-TYPE’ INJURY – - AS OF 2004 is to help people understand the motor vehicle accident claim process. Neither Dan Baldyga, Peter Go, nor ARTICLECITY.COM 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, claims consultant or the like. Whenever such help is desired it is THE INDIVIDUALS RESPONSIBILITY to obtain such services.

All of the information necessary for you to deal with and handle the above issues are spelled out within the contents of Dan Baldyga’s third ‘How To’ Insurance Claim Book AUTO ACCIDENT PERSONAL INJURY INSURANCE CLAIM (How To Evaluate And Settle Your Loss) found on the internet at http://www.caraccidentclaims.com or http://www.autoaccidentclaims.com. This book also contains BASE (The Baldyga Auto Accident Settlement Evaluation Formula). THE BASE FORMULA will tell you exactly how many dollars the ‘Pain and Suffering’ you endured because of your accident – - are worth!

About The Author

Dan Baldyga is now retired and spends his time writing articles to assist those who are involved in motor vehicle accident claims so the won’t be taken advantage of: dbpaw@comcast.net.

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