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The “Bottom Line” regarding “Whiplash Crash Facts” (accumulated up-to-date
2004 and including all the previous years) which are a direct
result of a motor vehicle accident are as follows:
THERE ARE EIGHT SERIOUS
AND ABSOLUTE FACTS IMPACTING AND REGARDING THAT WHICH IS TODAY IDENTIFIED
AS A “WHIPLASH” INJURY:
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 proved 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 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: An Arthritic 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!
NEVER FORGET (NOR IGNORE) YOUR MEDICAL PAYMENTS COVERAGE
YOU MUST READ AND UNDERSTAND ALL THERE IS TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR
MOTOR VEHICLE “MEDICAL PAYMENTS” INSURANCE COVERAGE: This coverage pays
all Medical (and very often even funeral expenses) for you, your spouse, relatives
living in your home, and/or others who are injured while operating your motor
vehicle.
HERE’S A
“BIGGIE” MANY PEOPLE ARE NOT AWARE OF:
You (and your resident family members) may also be covered as pedestrians
- - regarding the payment of medical bills - - should you or they have been
struck and injured by a motor vehicle.
PLUS: WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR MOTOR VEHICLES “MEDICAL
PAYMENTS” COVERAGE - - THERE 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 Medical
Payments amount you’ve selected, be that one, two, three or even five thousand
dollars! #2. The coverage often extends to all expenses incurred, within
the first three years after the accident!
By: Dan
Baldyga Email: dbpaw@comcast.net.
Copyright (c) 2004 By Daniel G. Baldyga. All Rights Reserved. Reprinted with
permission. Dan Baldyga has a lifetime of experience in motor vehicle accidents,
personal injury and compensation. Over the years Dan has written several "How
To" books on this subject matter. Dan's latest book AUTO ACCIDENT PERSONAL INJURY
INSURANCE CLAIM (How To Evaluate And Settle Your Loss) can be found on the internet
at http://www.caraccidentclaims.com
or http://www.autoaccidentcaims.com
DISCLAIMER:
The only purpose of this article, THE “WHIPLASH-TYPE”
INJURY, is to help people understand the motor vehicle accident
claim process. Neither Dan Baldyga, EXPERTPAGES.COM nor FREEADVICE.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 INDIVIDUAL'S RESPONSIBILITY to obtain such
services.
