Rear-end auto crash: Protect Your Neck

Jennifer Moore

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The August issue of Consumer Reports has a helpful guide on how to prevent neck injuries in a rear-end automobile accident. Here are the top six ways Consumer Reports suggests:
1) Buy a car with a good rear-crash rating;
2) Adjust the head restraint to fit you;
3) Always wear your safety belt;
4) Sit upright;
5) Don't tailgate; and
6) Position yourself for a crash.

Neck injuries are the most commonly reported type of crash-related injury. Whiplash refers to the rapid snapping back of a person's head during a collision, which hyperextends the neck and damages nerves and ligaments, often resulting in chronic symptoms such as persistent pain and lack of mobility. It can occur at crash speeds as low as 10 mph.

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Salisbury is not alone. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), which is funded by auto insurers, roughly 2 million whiplash claims are filed every year. An estimated 200,000 of those are serious enough to cause long-term medical problems. Taller people are most susceptible, medical experts say.

Please remember to adjust your head restraint to the right level so you can protect your neck in the event of a rear-end collision.

For more information on this subject, please refer to our section on Car and Motorcycle Accidents.