| Despite a Swedish study in 1995 that suggested that | | | | the age of the children and states that the risk of |
| the risk of whiplash in children is as high as two-thirds | | | | whiplash injury increases as a child reaches puberty, |
| of the likelihood of an adult suffering the condition, | | | | probably as a result of the physiological changes that |
| less than 2% of whiplash literature is actually devoted | | | | the child is undergoing. Children also rank alongside |
| to children. Considering that the strength of a six | | | | women as being more likely to suffer whiplash injury |
| year old's spine is only around 25% of the strength | | | | than men which seems to be due to their size. Being |
| of an adult's, clinical research begs the question as to | | | | shorter, they can often be closer to the airbag and, |
| why more children are not admitted with whiplash | | | | in an impact, this can exaggerate the movement of |
| injuries. The answer may lie in factors such as seating | | | | the neck. Size can also mean that they may have |
| in cars. Children tend to ride in the back seats of | | | | less securely fitted restraints. In the past, children |
| cars, which are known to be generally safer than the | | | | involved in accidents of this nature have been too |
| front seats. The back seats also have reduced | | | | often overlooked, both statistically and by the world |
| elasticity and smaller backrests, designed specifically | | | | of insurance; a number of insurance companies have |
| to minimise the potential for injury in low-speed rear | | | | refused to pay for the treatment of children who |
| impact crashes. Children also are proven to have a | | | | have received whiplash and whiplash associated |
| greater range of spinal motion and generally also | | | | disorders, bur personal injury specialist firms have |
| have less history of injuries or degenerative diseases | | | | been persistent, setting precedents that should |
| which can adversely affect the outcome of a rear | | | | ensure that children are no longer the 'forgotten |
| impact and any injuries incurred. In October, a study | | | | injured' of these unfortunate and often debilitating |
| was conducted using 105 children under the age of | | | | accidents. Whiplash is the term used to describe a |
| 17; each of whom had been involved in a low impact | | | | soft tissue injury to the neck when you are involved |
| collision. They were each interviewed and assessed | | | | in a car accident. The pain can last for a matter of |
| at intervals according to the severity of their injuries:- | | | | days or in more severe cases a number of years. |
| the most severe cases were interviewed 2 weeks | | | | However, only a minor percentage of whiplash |
| after they received their injuries, with further | | | | injuries result in long term injuries with most people |
| assessments scheduled at further 2 week intervals. | | | | making a full recovery. The important point is to |
| Less severe cases were initially interviewed 5 days | | | | make sure you are treated by professional medical |
| post injury. 39% of these children were sitting in the | | | | staff as soon as possible. For further information, |
| front seat at the time of impact and 61% were | | | | please visit our website at |
| rear-seat passengers and, of these, 50% were | | | | 1stclaims.co.uk is run by a non-practising Personal |
| involved in rear impact collisions, 32% were involved | | | | Injury Solicitor with over 14 years personal injury |
| in head on collisions and 18% were in side-on impacts. | | | | claims experience. We use this first hand knowledge |
| 49 out of 105 of the patients were recorded with | | | | of the Personal Injury Claim system to hand select |
| whiplash injuries, with 47% of these being over the | | | | the very best personal injury solicitors for you. We |
| age of 12. Forty of these were 'Grade 1' or severe | | | | want you to be handled professionally and to receive |
| cases and took an average of 19.7 days to recover, | | | | the best possible service. We handle a wide range of |
| with the rest reaching a comfortable state in 6.4 | | | | claims including whiplash claims. |
| days. The main conclusion of the report focused on | | | | |