The following questions are designed to test your knowledge of Auto Accident Injuries - *answers follow the questions
1) Who gets hurt worse in an auto accident, an older or younger person?
_ older _ younger
* Older people are less flexible and may be more seriously injured with “whiplash” type injuries. Sometimes, young people bend further with these “flexion/extension” injuries and suffer additional damage as a result.
2) Are men or women more likely to be injured in an accident?
_ Men _ Women
* Women are more flexible and less muscled (on average) than men and are more prone to tearing of muscle and soft tissue.
3) If a car hit you from the rear at 10 miles an hour, how fast could your head move forward?
_ 10 mph _ 15mph _ 20 mph _ 30 mph _ all of the above
* Because of the “whipping” effect, the actual speed of neck and head can exceed the vehicle speed and is individual to crash circumstances.
4) Where does the energy of an impact go when a car is hit? (a) into the car that was hit (b) into the occupants (c) into the road?
_ a, _ b, _ c, _ a and b, _ a, b, and c
* The energy is absorbed by all contact objects including the people in the car. Distribution of energy determines nature and severity of injury.
5) In most accidents, can we assume that if your car was injured, that your body was significantly damaged as well?
* see # 4. The distribution of energy determines damage. If the car is damaged, you probably are also. However, the Insurance company doesn’t want you to know that you may have been injured with very little or no visible damage to the auto.
6) Seat belts save lives. To what degree do they prevent back and neck injury?
_ 50%, _ 30%, _ 0%
* Zero % ! Although seat belts save lives, studies show that they result in an increase of neck and back injuries.
7) Some people hear a car skidding before impact. If you turned your head to warn others in the car, or looked to see what is happening, could you actually unknowingly reduce your chance of injury?
_ yes _ no
* Turning your head exposes more neck structures to ripping due to flexion/extension trauma. Your chance of injury is increased.
8) If the road is wet and your car is hit, then slides, are the occupants more or less likely to be hurt than if the road was dry? _ more _ less
* The change of acceleration and direction is what causes soft tissue tearing in the occupants. Injury may be worse.
9) If you are rear ended, will you be hurt more or less if you have your foot on the brake?
_ more _ less
* see # 8. The change of speed is less if you have your foot on the brake. The “slingshot” effect of being hit without braking can increase injury to occupants.
10) You hear a car about to hit you. Should you remain calm and relaxed, or tighten up and brace yourself with elbows slightly bent to reduce injury?
_ remain relaxed _ tighten up
* Brace Yourself! The evidence is clear. Tightening up reduces the whipping effect of impact and reduces injury.
11) Head rests were designed to prevent injury. What percentage of Americans set them to the correct height?
_ 80% _ 50% _ 40% _ 20%
* The Auto companies have intentionally labeled them Head Rests instead of Head Restraints to avoid liability. Less than 1 of 5 riders have the Head Restraint set to proper height. It must be set to the upper/top back of the head. If it is set to the neck or lower head, it can increase neck injury.
12) The extent of an auto accident victim’s injuries are wide and varied. Sometimes the victim seems to get well soon after a settlement is made. Sometimes the pain and discomfort goes on for prolonged periods of time. Studies have revealed the a majority of accident victims suffer health problems related to the accident for up to
_ 1 year, _ 2 years, _ 3 years
* The studies showed symptoms often persisted for 2 years and were likely to become chronic problems, never entirely healing properly.
13) Why do people have pain last so long after an accident?
(a) _ they fail to take the medication prescribed
(b) _ they fail to rest in bed
(c) _ they fail to get the proper care to repair muscles, ligaments and range of motion
* (c) Ripped and torn ligaments, tendons and muscles will heal with internal scarring (fibrosis) unless the auto crash victim receives proper care.
14) Cars are not made all the same. Some have bumpers that are elastic and move in and then bounce back. This reduces damage to the bumper. If your car has little damage, will you most likely have little damage to your body?
_ yes _ no
* see # 4. Research clearly shows that the rebound effect increases injury to occupants. The Insurance companies consistently hide these study results from the public!
15) If you are the driver of a car and are hit in the door on your side of the car, other than injury from possible broken glass, would you be less hurt or more hurt than if you were rear-ended?
_ more _ less
* Seat belts and air bags are designed to work with impact from front or back. You have much less protection with side impact trauma.
16) With nearly 38 million automobile accidents occurring yearly in the U.S., you stand to be involved in at least one accident in the course of your lifetime. If you live in a metropolitan area, your chances of being involved in more than one serious automobile accident are
_ higher _ lower …than average
* Driving busy city streets and highways means much higher risk of Motor Vehicle Crash and Injury.
17) In a 10 mile-per-hour rear- end collision, in a normal midsize car, the force of the impact can accelerate the occupants up to
_ 10 mph _ 20 mph _ 30 mph _ 40 mph 50 mph
* Sudden impact can result in extreme accelerating changes to 30 mph + !
This information provided by Dr. Rik Cederstrom D.C.
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