What are the Physics Behind a Whiplash Injury?

Whiplash is a soft tissue injury, which means it is often less obvious to both patients and onlookers than other common injuries such as broken bones. While whiplash injuries can be less visibly obvious, the pain caused by them is certainly very real and impactful. 

Whiplash injuries are most commonly sustained in road traffic accidents. While whiplash is understood to be one of the most prevalent kinds of car accident injury claims, there is some uncertainly as to how this injury is acquired. 

To learn more or to start your claim, get in touch with our expert team on 0800 808 9740 or contact us online. 

How much Compensation for a Whiplash Claim?

As with all personal injury claims, the amount of compensation you are likely to be owed is dependent upon the severity of your injury amongst other factors such as how your injuries have impacted upon your ability to work.

While there is still some ambiguity about whiplash, there are certain truths about how the condition is sustained which can be understood through the fundamental laws of physics. Firstly, it is important to remember that whiplash is often sustained in a very particular type of road traffic accident: a rear-end car collision. In this scenario, there is an elevated risk of whiplash occurring if the car that is collided into is stationary while the one behind it is travelling at medium to low speed. 

Still, it is important to note that all car accidents are different. However, we have outlined a common road traffic accident scenario to highlight how physics can explain the development of whiplash injuries: 

1. Car A has stopped at a red light on a main road. 
2. Car B approaches from behind and fails to stop in time for the light, it is travelling at roughly 15 mph. 
3. As Car A is not moving, the impact of Car B hitting Car A is lessened but there is still force applied as Car B is moving.  
4. This impact causes the seats inside Car A to move forward suddenly. 
5. As the seats move forward, the torsos on the seats move forward at the same speed. 
6. The heads and necks of the passengers/drivers do not necessarily move at the same time as the seats, which can cause a whiplash action. 
7. The headrests of a car are designed to lessen this sort of impact. Therefore, you should always adjust your headrest so that it is even with the top of your head so it can properly support this area of your body. If it won’t reach the top of your head, you should place it as high as possible. 

The Science

If you’d like to delve deeper into the science behind whiplash, understanding Newton’s laws of motions are often an important part of the equation. Isaac Newton’s rules of motion outline three separate laws that understand the motion of physical objects, or more specifically they describe what happens when an object has a force acting upon it. 

The first law is that when a body or an object is still in motion, it will usually stay in motion. The second law is that if an object is still it usually stays still. The third law states that these two principles will remain the same unless there is an outside force which actions upon them. 

In a car accident, especially a rear-end collision, when a body is stationary in a vehicle, it moves on impact but the head and neck which are unrestrained, stay in place. The head eventually moves and becomes hyperextended due to the difference in time of movement, which causes the muscles and ligaments in and around the neck to become damaged. The body recoils and brings everything forward as far as it can, which snaps the neck back and forth. 

While the visible signs of whiplash might not be as obvious as a broken bone, you will still probably know if you or a co-passenger has suffered whiplash due to some obvious symptoms. These symptoms include neck pain and stiffness, headaches, a reduced ability to move the neck and a tenderness of the neck muscles. You may not feel any immediate pain and many of these symptoms can appear several days after an accident, so it is important to monitor yourself and anyone else involved in the crash to check for signs of whiplash. 

In all suspected whiplash injury cases, it is recommended that you visit your GP who will be able to confirm your injuries. 

Making Personal Injury Claims

If you have been involved in a road traffic accident that wasn’t your fault, you may be entitled to compensation. First Personal Injury is available to assist you and ensure that you get the compensation you deserve. 

To learn more or to start your claim, get in touch with our expert team on 0800 808 9740 or contact us online.