Headrests and Neck Injuries
One of the most common form of injury in car and truck accidents is injury to the head, neck or back due to the tremendous forces exerted on the human body during a collision. Many times, post-impact forces throw the driver back into their seat, with the headrest (hopefully) in place to prevent whiplash, injuries or death. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has released a study outlining rear crash protection in cars, particularly seat head restraints. That auto safety study applies ratings to tested vehicles with interesting results: two of every three models rated marginal or poor.
We invite interested visitors to review the IIHS article for more information on individual cars' headrest ratings but, for many people, this information comes too late. Car and truck accidents involving missing, defective or improperly designed head rests have been causing injury for years, with the most common injuries being:
Whiplash Neck Injury
Whiplash is the common name for a neck "sprain" caused by hyper extension or flexion of the cervical, thoracic or lumbar spinal segments. The injury is referred to as "whiplash" because of the way the victim's neck or back is thrown forwards and/or backwards at a rapid speed - like a whip. This causes the soft tissues and muscles of the neck to tear, resulting in pain and, often, long-term decreased range of movement. When a vehicle's head restraints do not function properly, whiplash is a telltale sign.
Head & Neck Injury
Generally, headrest failures leave drivers with head and neck injuries such as concussion, skull or spinal fractures, brain damage, paralysis and even trauma leading to death. The integrity of a car or truck's seat back and head rest is essential in preventing these types of injury but, unfortunately, it's an aspect of safety planning that has been neglected by the major auto manufacturers. Legal action is often the only course of action available to those who have suffered a head, back or neck injury due to this defect.
More Information
To discuss a head or neck injury sustained from an improperly designed headrest, contact the crashworthiness law firm of Davis, Bethune & Jones. The firm can be reached by calling (toll-free) 1-800-875-5972 or by filling out the form at the right.
