What is a low speed collision?
Low speed collisions are those that are 10 mph or less. These types of car accidents typically will have little or no property damage to the vehicles involved. Yet, these low speed collisions, with no monetary damage, now make up the majority of injuries resulting from all car accidents.

How common are these accidents?
These low speed car accidents, and resulting injuries, are increasing in frequency. They make up the majority of all auto accidents. There is no way to know exactly how common they are, because a large number of these accidents are never reported.

How can these minor collisions result in injury?
The main reason why is due to car design. Newer cars, from mid 1990’s and up, are being made with stiffer frames and chassis to better withstand higher speed, more serious collisions. As a result of this increased vehicle rigidity, at lower speeds the car does not absorb any of the impact, instead that force is transferred directly to the occupants. Another big factor is that 75% of Americans don’t have their head restraint positioned properly. In fact if your head restraint is too low it will actually increase your risk of whiplash. Many times with these low speed car accidents the onset of pain is not immediate and usually appears within several days or weeks after the accident.

How can you get injured if neither car is damaged?
Numerous research studies have shown that there is absolutely no correlation between vehicle damage and risk for injury. Newer model cars are also typically made to withstand collisions up to 10 mph, and sometimes higher speeds, without causing any property damage. A recent study showed that the majority of injuries sustained from auto accidents had no vehicle damage.

It’s important to remember.
Most of the time drivers don’t even bother to exchange information, because they figure that there is no damage and they’re not hurt…yet. This exact situation occurs all too frequently, that is why it is important to always get the other parties information, because you never know if you may wake up the next day with neck pain.
At our Chiropractic office we offer FREE Auto Accident Checklist brochures to any and everyone, to put in your glove box so you know what you need to do after an accident.