Car accident news
04/01/2008
Whiplash tops the injury table

Whiplash remains as the most common type of personal injury sustained during car accidents, the latest research from the AA has revealed.

Spinal cord damage, brain injuries, broken bones and burn injuries are still fairly common, yet it is whiplash that remains to be the most likely result for any unfortunate motorist involved in a car crash.

The painful condition causes a range of problems such as headaches, stiffness and dizziness, but also has a big effect on motor insurance policies. In fact, treatments and personal injury compensation resulting from whiplash cost the insurance industry, and ultimately the UK motorist, a staggering £1 billion a year.

Car accident experts are continuously preaching the importance of the headrest as a factor in whiplash prevention and a Thatcham spokesman recently said: "The position of your headrest is critical. The top of it should be level with the crown of your head, and tilted forward."

Reducing occurrences of whiplash is high on the list of car designers and the latest technology is used in the quest to prevent the painful neck injury.

One such manufacturer currently tackling the problem is Toyota, who have designed a revolutionary pop-up airbag that is intended to replace traditional head restraints.

A spokesman from the Japanese car giant commented on the new anti-whiplash device, saying: "This is a novel solution and we are patenting the invention. But extensive testing will be needed to see if it is worth implementing on road cars."