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For many years it was believed by accident investigators that if there was no damage to a vehicle in a car accident, it was extremely unlikely that anyone in either of the cars would have suffered any personal injury.
However, this was refuted by many people who had been involved in low speed car accidents and had suffered neck injuries.
Car accidents that happen at speeds of less than 10mph are often referred to as low velocity impacts. These account for many of the shunts and bumps that happen on the UK's roads, especially in queuing traffic and approaching roundabouts.
It is rare to see any vehicular damage at this speed because manufacturers have designed cars to be able to withstand a certain amount of stress so that repairs for minor bumps are not necessary.
(Visit the YouClaim compensation calculator to find out compensation amounts for all injuries to the head neck and body)
However, recent research into the subject of low velocity impacts has found that although many cars can survive intact in accidents at low speeds, the forces exerted on the body mean that whiplash injuries suffered by occupants are not that unusual.
In a 1998 study, 38% of people involved in 5mph car accidents were found to have sustained mild whiplash injuries. However, other studies have since shown that a lower rate of incidence is more usual, with 2005 research showing one volunteer out of 14 displayed symptoms of a Whiplash-Associated Disorder after a 5mph car crash. This volunteer suffered restricted neck movement for 10 weeks.
Read more about whiplash symptoms.
The methodology of this kind of research has been criticised by some. Volunteers for the studies are usually young, male and healthy and do not really provide an accurate representation of people involved in these types of car accidents.
As a result, this could mean that more people suffer whiplash injuries in low speed car accidents than some of these studies have concluded.
Another theory which may have relevance to the fact that whiplash injuries commonly occur from low velocity impacts is that of the startle response. New research, carried out by Jean-Sebastien Blouin, has shown that when a person is startled, their neck muscles can contract excessively, potentially causing damage.
The neck muscles contract more severely than any other muscle in the body in reaction to being startled and this may explain why Whiplash-Associated Disorders are focused in and around the neck.
Mr Blouin's study showed that if a loud noise or abrupt movement accompanied the impact of a car accident, participants showed greater neck muscle contractions than if the collision occurred without these sensory inputs. This would suggest that the speed that a car crash takes place may not be as important as if the occupants were startled by it.
These findings also offer an explanation for why passengers are more likely to experience whiplash injuries than drivers. Passengers are less likely to be expecting the collision and will have a greater startle response than the driver, who may well have caught a glimpse of the other vehicle before they collide.
Read more about whiplash development factors.
If you have sustained a Whiplash-Associated Disorder and are thinking of claiming personal injury compensation, we can help. Our solicitors have years of experience in handling whiplash injury cases and are extremely skilled at getting maximum compensation for our customers.
They work on a no win, no fee basis and ensure that you are protected from legal costs from the beginning to the end of your claim. This means that whatever the outcome, you will not have to pay a penny to us or anyone else. We make no deductions from any compensation awarded to you, unlike some compensation claim firms that can take up to 40%.
If you would like free legal advice or you want to start your whiplash injury claim now, please call us on 0800 10 757 95 and we will be glad to help.
