Whiplash - Does it really exist?
Discussion
We were chatting over the weekend about insurance and subject of whiplash claims came up.
Both my Dad and I have competed in motorsport for years (he's been competing about 40 years) and have both been involved in some fairly hefty shunts in that time, be they rolls, head on crashes or side swiping something. (Dad top trumps me having sustained broken ribs, and some pretty nasty bruising in an accident where the car rolled 3 times and the roof never hit the while travelling not far short of 100mph).
NB, neither of us have had accidents using HANS devices or neck braces, but were (mostly) in race seats wearing harness with no neck restraint.
Neither of us have ever managed to come out of an accident with ye olde fabled "Whiplash" and were discussing whether really it's just a load of b
ks that has been made up to satisfy claims in the "compensation culture" we now live in.
Both my Dad and I have competed in motorsport for years (he's been competing about 40 years) and have both been involved in some fairly hefty shunts in that time, be they rolls, head on crashes or side swiping something. (Dad top trumps me having sustained broken ribs, and some pretty nasty bruising in an accident where the car rolled 3 times and the roof never hit the while travelling not far short of 100mph).
NB, neither of us have had accidents using HANS devices or neck braces, but were (mostly) in race seats wearing harness with no neck restraint.
Neither of us have ever managed to come out of an accident with ye olde fabled "Whiplash" and were discussing whether really it's just a load of b
ks that has been made up to satisfy claims in the "compensation culture" we now live in.I do believe it exists but people mistake a stiff neck with whiplash. I think you'd need to be hit at a good speed, 30+mph before you'd start suffering any pain. Of course it depends if the driver's head is already on the headrest at time of impact or if they are leant forward meaning their neck is jarred upon impact etc.
Definitely exists, I can testify to that first hand. What I would say is that the sort of crash likely to cause it on the road - i.e. being stationary and then hit from behind isn't very common on a race track. Also as said properly adjusted/setup seat should minimse the chances of it happening as well.
KaraK said:
What I would say is that the sort of crash likely to cause it on the road - i.e. being stationary and then hit from behind isn't very common on a race track.
Going backwards into a wall at high speed has a similar effect on the neck. I think the seat design is probably a bigger factor. I got shunted from behind at a roundabout; caused about £1000's worth of damage. Didn't feel a thing in terms of pain. I understand real whiplash is felt several hours after the incident so anyone who complains about it immediately should be arrested for fraud. (I could be wrong, though!)
It definitely exists!
The Mrs's Mini got clobbered front/side on by a guy that ran a red light at 35MPH. I saw it coming and was able to brace (to a degree) but she didn't at all and ended up with really serious whiplash. Could barely move her neck for a month, in varying degrees of pain for 6 months at least and still has problems with her neck/upper-back 4 years later. She claimed and got £4K but only after a series of rigorous examinations by Physiotherapists. To the half-thinking PH'er that suggested that it's no different to Rugby players etc......do off. They actively chose to take those risks and it goes with the territory.
The Mrs's Mini got clobbered front/side on by a guy that ran a red light at 35MPH. I saw it coming and was able to brace (to a degree) but she didn't at all and ended up with really serious whiplash. Could barely move her neck for a month, in varying degrees of pain for 6 months at least and still has problems with her neck/upper-back 4 years later. She claimed and got £4K but only after a series of rigorous examinations by Physiotherapists. To the half-thinking PH'er that suggested that it's no different to Rugby players etc......do
off. They actively chose to take those risks and it goes with the territory.Edited by Ali2202 on Wednesday 18th January 13:19
GBDG said:
Even if it does exist, it shouldn't be rewarded financially. Anyone who plays rugby, competes in sport, rides horses etc will sustain worse injuries and just crack on with life.
Rewarded no.. compensated reasonably yes. In my case I was off work for two days in utter agony (which left me out of pocket) and had my quality of life impacted for quite some time afterwards through no fault of my own. If nothing else the financial loss I incurred through being unable to attend my job was no less real than that resulting from losing my car. I didn't get mega bucks for it but after taking into account my monetary losses and the impact it had on my ability to go about my day to day life they came up with a figure and that's what I got. As it happened the amount was just about enough to make up the shortfall on what I got paid out for the car so as you can imagine it wasn't exactly laugh-it-up money.it does exist, my understanding is that they are close to developing a new device which can demonstrate whiplash (a neurological test using electrical impulses or something similar). If this is approved and used by insurance companies then I'm sure the payout rate will go down by a hefty margin and hopefully cheaper premiums as a result!
I can confirm it does, having been run over by a drink driver doing circa 30-35mph!
Hit the bonnet, smashed the screen with my head shoulder hit the top of the windscreen spnning me over the top of the car. Landed headfirst on the road behind.
Amazingly coupled with a cut-head / some fairly nasty concussion & a little bit of brusing here & there i was pretty lucky.
Although for a week i couldnt lift my head as it was physically too painful!
Hit the bonnet, smashed the screen with my head shoulder hit the top of the windscreen spnning me over the top of the car. Landed headfirst on the road behind.
Amazingly coupled with a cut-head / some fairly nasty concussion & a little bit of brusing here & there i was pretty lucky.
Although for a week i couldnt lift my head as it was physically too painful!
lawrence567 said:
I can confirm it does, having been run over by a drink driver doing circa 30-35mph!
Hit the bonnet, smashed the screen with my head shoulder hit the top of the windscreen spnning me over the top of the car. Landed headfirst on the road behind.
Amazingly coupled with a cut-head / some fairly nasty concussion & a little bit of brusing here & there i was pretty lucky.
Although for a week i couldnt lift my head as it was physically too painful!
I think you are mistaking whiplash and being run over!Hit the bonnet, smashed the screen with my head shoulder hit the top of the windscreen spnning me over the top of the car. Landed headfirst on the road behind.
Amazingly coupled with a cut-head / some fairly nasty concussion & a little bit of brusing here & there i was pretty lucky.
Although for a week i couldnt lift my head as it was physically too painful!
MonkeyMatt said:
lawrence567 said:
I can confirm it does, having been run over by a drink driver doing circa 30-35mph!
Hit the bonnet, smashed the screen with my head shoulder hit the top of the windscreen spnning me over the top of the car. Landed headfirst on the road behind.
Amazingly coupled with a cut-head / some fairly nasty concussion & a little bit of brusing here & there i was pretty lucky.
Although for a week i couldnt lift my head as it was physically too painful!
I think you are mistaking whiplash and being run over!Hit the bonnet, smashed the screen with my head shoulder hit the top of the windscreen spnning me over the top of the car. Landed headfirst on the road behind.
Amazingly coupled with a cut-head / some fairly nasty concussion & a little bit of brusing here & there i was pretty lucky.
Although for a week i couldnt lift my head as it was physically too painful!
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