Risk Factors
Each year, about three million people experience whiplash injuries to their neck and back. Of these three million people, only about one-half, will fully recover. About 600,000 of those individuals will have long-term symptoms, and 150,000 will actually become disabled as a result of the injury.
There are many factors that come into play when a person is injured in a rear-end motor vehicle accident. Any one or more of the following factors can affect recovery:
- Head turned one way or the other at the time of the impact (increases risk of nerve
involvement with pain down the arm) - Getting hit from behind (rear-impact collision)
- Previous neck pain or headaches
- Previous similar injury
- Being unaware of the impending impact
- Poor posture at the time of impact (head, neck, or chest bent forward)
- Poor position of the headrest or no headrest
- Crash speed under 10 mph
- Being in the front seat as opposed to sitting in the back seat of the car
- Collision with a vehicle larger than yours
- Being of slight build
- Wearing a seatbelt (a seat belt should always be worn, but at lower speeds, a lap and shoulder type seat belt will increase the chances of injury)
