There are three simple things that can be done to help prevent whiplash in the event of a car accident.

Correctly Adjust the Head Restraints in the Vehicle

A correctly adjusted head restraint will reduce the risk of suffering whiplash by a quarter.

When a vehicle is involved in an accident it is subject to sudden and rapid deceleration. Unfortunately, the bodies in side the vehicle continue to move forwards, after a split second delay, before jerking violently backwards. It is as the head whips backwards that it tends to go beyond its normal range of movement and whiplash injury occurs.

Head restraints are designed to provide support for the head and to limit its movement during a collision. The effectiveness of the head restraint is reduced unless the guidelines below are followed:-

• The height of the head restraint should be adjusted so that it is level with the top of the head.
• The head restraint should be positioned as close to the back of the head as possible.

It should be possible to lock the head restraint into position. If the head restraint cannot be locked in place it could move during an accident and reduce the amount of protection it offers.

When purchasing a used car it is always advisable to check that the head restraints can be properly adjusted so that they rest behind the head.

Choose a Vehicle with Whiplash Prevention Systems

Vehicle manufacturers are investing more now in safety systems than ever before and most modern cars provide good levels. However, the drivers and passengers of small ‘city’ cars are still not being adequately protected. Thatcham testing of standards of seat and head restraints fitted into cars showed that, out of 11 city cars only two achieved an ‘Acceptable’ rating, seven were rated as ‘Marginal’ and two as ‘Poor’.

It is well worth checking on a vehicles safety rating before you commit yourself to a purchase as it could help you avoid more serious injury if you are involved in a collision. Visit www.thatcham.org.uk

Keep a Safe Distance from the Vehicle in Front

You should keep at least 2 seconds behind the vehicle in front if the road conditions are dry, at least 4 seconds if the road is wet and if the road is icy, has compacted snow on or has had a spillage of something slippery like diesel you should leave a full 10 seconds between your vehicle and the one in front.

To check how many seconds there are between you just watch as the vehicle in front comes to a fixed marker e.g. a bridge or a sign, and start to count as follows: one thousand one, one thousand two, one thousand three etc. Stop counting when you reach the same fixed marker and you will have the number of seconds distance between you and the vehicle in front.

What to Do if you Suffer Whiplash in a Road Traffic Accident

You may not be immediately aware that you have suffered any injury at all. The symptoms of whiplash very often don’t appear straight away but may develop over the next few hours or even a few days. If you do feel any pain, stiffness, headaches or any other symptoms that may be connected with your accident you should go and see your GP who will advise you on appropriate treatment.

If you were the driver of one of the vehicles involved and the accident was caused by the other driver or you were a passenger, whether you were in the car that caused the accident or in the other vehicle, you should seek specialist legal advice.

Macks Solicitors have assisted thousands of victims of no fault accidents to claim compensation for their injuries and other losses. If you have suffered a whiplash injury in an accident that was not your fault, either as a driver or a passenger, call Macks on Freephone 0800 652 4321 for expert legal advice without obligation or simply complete the 30 second claim form on the website and we will call you as quickly as possible.