What is Whiplash From a Side Impact?
Whiplash from rear-ending is a well-known issue, and almost everyone knows someone who has been injured in this way. However, did you know that whiplash from side impact is also common? We don’t tend to hear as much about whiplash caused by a t-bone or side impact, but it’s a frequent cause of many spine and neck injuries for adults and kids.
This type of whiplash from a side impact occurs when a car is hit from the side rather than the front or back. Side impact accidents happen most frequently when drivers run red lights or ignore a stop sign at an intersection. This type of crash can result in more serious injuries, partially because there is less ‘crumple zone’ at the side of the car, and also because the car is usually moving forwards as well as sideways during the impact.
How Common is Side Impact Whiplash?
Whiplash from a t-bone accident or side impact is more common than most people think, with many people assuming that it can only be caused by a rear-end or front impact.
In fact, between 8,000 and 10,000 people are killed by a side impact car accident every year, which is more than car accidents to the front and rear combined.
What Factors Influence a Side Impact Neck Injury?
There are a number of different things that can influence whiplash injuries that occur from a side impact. Here are some of the main factors:
- The speed at which both cars were going
- Whether both front and side airbags were deployed
- The physical build of the patient
- The vehicle’s crumple zone
- Position of body at time of impact
How Long Will it Take Me to Recover From a T-Bone Accident?
How long it will take you to recover from whiplash will depend on the severity of the accident. Minor whiplash accidents can take just days or weeks to recover from. However, a more serious injury can take months and even years to disappear. Some very serious injuries can leave the victim with chronic symptoms and a permanent injury.
Some whiplash cases can also be complex, and even though the symptoms might appear to go away after a few weeks or months, they can reappear years later.
Because of this, it’s important to get the best possible whiplash treatment and legal advice as early as possible.