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