Whiplash and Low Velocity Impacts - The Effects on Motorists
A perennial hot potato in the world of road traffic accident (RTA) law is the subject of low velocity impacts.
These impacts, typically occurring at speeds under 10 miles per hour, are the subject of much debate both inside and outside the courts.
On one hand, defendants and their lawyers and insurers are keen to play down crashes at low speed, where there may be little or no damage to the vehicle, arguing that any injuries will be very minor and short term.
On the other, claimant's lawyers, such as Camps Solicitors, argue that in all but the lowest speed collisions there remains a significant chance of whiplash injuries due to the sudden movements of the muscles in the neck during an impact.
The key issue in the majority of claims involving a low velocity impact is the sudden involuntary movements caused by the impact, which can "jerk" the neck and head quickly forwards and backwards, stretching tendons and causing bruising and lasting stiffness.
Whilst modern cars are designed to be much more resistant to high velocity crashes than previous generations of vehicles, the increased stiffness and structural strength increases the chances of straining and spraining injuries in a low velocity impact.
This is due to a loss of flexibility in the body of the vehicle, and means that much more of the force is transmitted directly to the occupants, as opposed to a high speed crash where the crumple zones in the car would help to absorb the force of the impact.
The stiffness of modern car seats also contributes as they are designed not to break in high speed crashes, but will not absorb energy in a low velocity crash.
The lack of absorption of energy or momentum in modern cars is thought to be one of the main reasons behind the numbers of whiplash claims each year, estimated at around 250,000.
These impacts, typically occurring at speeds under 10 miles per hour, are the subject of much debate both inside and outside the courts.
On one hand, defendants and their lawyers and insurers are keen to play down crashes at low speed, where there may be little or no damage to the vehicle, arguing that any injuries will be very minor and short term.
On the other, claimant's lawyers, such as Camps Solicitors, argue that in all but the lowest speed collisions there remains a significant chance of whiplash injuries due to the sudden movements of the muscles in the neck during an impact.
The key issue in the majority of claims involving a low velocity impact is the sudden involuntary movements caused by the impact, which can "jerk" the neck and head quickly forwards and backwards, stretching tendons and causing bruising and lasting stiffness.
Whilst modern cars are designed to be much more resistant to high velocity crashes than previous generations of vehicles, the increased stiffness and structural strength increases the chances of straining and spraining injuries in a low velocity impact.
This is due to a loss of flexibility in the body of the vehicle, and means that much more of the force is transmitted directly to the occupants, as opposed to a high speed crash where the crumple zones in the car would help to absorb the force of the impact.
The stiffness of modern car seats also contributes as they are designed not to break in high speed crashes, but will not absorb energy in a low velocity crash.
The lack of absorption of energy or momentum in modern cars is thought to be one of the main reasons behind the numbers of whiplash claims each year, estimated at around 250,000.