Whiplash is a common term, and, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, although whiplash injuries can occur in any kind of crash, car accident whiplash is most common in rear-end collisions.
During the summer, vacationers heading from Albuquerque to Santa Fe or Las Cruces on Highway 25 or to Gallup on Highway 40 are sometimes paying more attention to the beautiful desert views than to the road. One of the most common distracted driver car accidents is a rear-ender wreck. The best Albuquerque personal injury lawyers see plenty of downtown Albuquerque rush hour traffic rear-ender whiplash injuries as well, involving New Mexico residents who may be texting while driving home from work.
In a 2008 report, the NHTSA estimated that between 1988 and 1996, 805,581 whiplash injuries occurred annually in crashes involving passenger cars and LTVs (light trucks, multipurpose passenger vehicles, and vans). Of these whiplash injuries, 272,464 occurred as a result of rear-end impacts. Victims should not hesitate to contact the best car accident lawyers in Albuquerque, NM.
Though whiplash is very common, many people don’t fully understand exactly what happens to the neck, back and shoulders in the car accidents that cause them, whether it’s a drunk driving accident or a driver distracted at the wheel. Whiplash injuries have to do with the motion of the driver and passengers when a vehicle is struck from behind. Several movements occur in quick succession to occupant of a rear-ended car. First, from the occupant’s frame of reference, the back of the seat moves forward into his or her torso, straightening the spine and forcing the head to rise vertically. Second, as the seat pushes the occupant’s body forward, the unrestrained head tends to lag behind. This causes the neck to change shape, first taking on an S-shape and then bending backward. Third, the forces on the neck accelerate the head, which catches up with-and, depending on the seat back stiffness and if the occupant is using a shoulder belt, passes-the restrained torso. This motion of the head and neck is like the lash of a whip, giving the resulting neck injuries this common name.
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