Whiplash - are drivers themselves partly to blame?
Discussion
Something I've been thinking about recently given the rise in insurance claims is whether some people are making the problem worse either deliberately or just by plain ignorance.
Case in point this morning - passed a Laguna on the M53. Guy had his headrest so low that the the top of it was below his shoulders. If anyone was to rear-end him, there would be nothing to protect his head.
So, do we all have our headrests properly positioned (top of headrest level with eyes)?
Case in point this morning - passed a Laguna on the M53. Guy had his headrest so low that the the top of it was below his shoulders. If anyone was to rear-end him, there would be nothing to protect his head.
So, do we all have our headrests properly positioned (top of headrest level with eyes)?
I believe so. An injury wich can be (mostly) avoided with a simple adjustement of the headrest... If a driver can't be arsed to do this, then why should be anyone be inclined to help them after a shunt?
In Holland, the goverment even did a campaign a few years back to make people aware of putting their headrest at the correct height. Just as getting a correct driving position, putting your headrest at the right height should be done before you start driving.
I had a relatively small accident (for me at least) on the A2 in Holland (going form Eindhoven to Maastricht) where a van crashed in to me while braking hard. When the van hit my car, it was a pretty big bang and my head hit the headrest pretty hard. If my headrest hadn't been at the right height, I would surely have had a pretty sore neck. Now I just had a little headache the rest of the day and not much else.
Seeing the carnage behind the van as I got out of my car was a stark reminder for me to maintain enough distance when following someone. Behind the van were three cars piled in to the back of the van. The last car was in a really bad state. It had hit the car in front pushing them all forward and the van into my car.
In Holland, the goverment even did a campaign a few years back to make people aware of putting their headrest at the correct height. Just as getting a correct driving position, putting your headrest at the right height should be done before you start driving.
I had a relatively small accident (for me at least) on the A2 in Holland (going form Eindhoven to Maastricht) where a van crashed in to me while braking hard. When the van hit my car, it was a pretty big bang and my head hit the headrest pretty hard. If my headrest hadn't been at the right height, I would surely have had a pretty sore neck. Now I just had a little headache the rest of the day and not much else.
Seeing the carnage behind the van as I got out of my car was a stark reminder for me to maintain enough distance when following someone. Behind the van were three cars piled in to the back of the van. The last car was in a really bad state. It had hit the car in front pushing them all forward and the van into my car.
Whiplash is something that I reckon occurs in a tiny fraction of car crashes.
Look at the number of people who play sports, go skiing, play rugby blah blah. They don't miraculously suffer whiplash at a slight fall - yet if someone runs a hatchback up the back of their car at 2mph and cracks the numberplate they're off to ClaimsRUs. Bunch of sponging cock-jockeys.
Look at the number of people who play sports, go skiing, play rugby blah blah. They don't miraculously suffer whiplash at a slight fall - yet if someone runs a hatchback up the back of their car at 2mph and cracks the numberplate they're off to ClaimsRUs. Bunch of sponging cock-jockeys.
I think a lot of the claims are due to the claim culture that is developing in the UK, however very few people I know would understand the proper use for a headrest, and therefore not adjust it properly. It was one of the first things I did when I got my car, and I explained it to my girlfriend and so she's sorted her one too. People just think it's there to rest on, rather than protect you.
175gt said:
Monty Python said:
So, do we all have our headrests properly positioned (top of headrest level with eyes)?
I think it might now have changed to top of headrest level with top of head recommended?Yep, I reckon in cases of GENUINE whiplash, drivers who've not bothered to correctly adjust their headrests have to accept an amount of blame themselves and any compensation paid should be adjusted accordingly.
The way I see it, a cash payout if you have actually been injured is all well and good, but I'd rather have a functioning neck than a couple of grand! People tend to forget that compensation is paid because, basically, you're f
ked and will have to put up with considerable pain and/or reduced movement and mobility for the rest of your natural.
And yes, I have adjusted my headrest - one of the first things I do when buying/driving someone else's car.
The way I see it, a cash payout if you have actually been injured is all well and good, but I'd rather have a functioning neck than a couple of grand! People tend to forget that compensation is paid because, basically, you're f
ked and will have to put up with considerable pain and/or reduced movement and mobility for the rest of your natural.And yes, I have adjusted my headrest - one of the first things I do when buying/driving someone else's car.
Monty Python said:
That's what Volvo recommend - top at eye level
Weird, the ones in my S60 are not adjustable (or I am not being violent enough)...Surely as long as the head cannot be bent over the top of the headrest you would be fine, and I would hazard a guess that eye level is the minimum height that this is the case...
I was hit from behind whilst stationary in an Audi,with the headrest adjusted correctly.It lessened the effect of the sudden jolt,but not completely.
I had physio for two months,which worked.
Whiplash can also occur when the vehicle is struck from the side,so no matter how good the headrest is a whiplash type injury is always possible.
I had physio for two months,which worked.
Whiplash can also occur when the vehicle is struck from the side,so no matter how good the headrest is a whiplash type injury is always possible.
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