The Motor Vehicle Accident Whiplash-Type Injury -- As Of 2004

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, theyre 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 dont 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 size=2>

#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 patients 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 its 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 theres 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 vehicles 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.

HERES 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. Youre usually paid (regardless of who was at fault for the accident) up to the limit of the coverage youve selected. #2. The coverage often extends to expenses incurred - - within he 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 Baldygas third How To Insurance Claim Book AUTO ACCIDENT PERSONAL INJURY INSURANCE CLAIM (How To Evaluate And Settle Your Loss) found on the internet at or . 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!