Low speed whiplash injury: reviewing opinions

摘要

Injuries associated with low speed rear end automobile collisions, commonly called whiplash injuries, are an increasing worldwide problem that accounts for significant amounts of suffering and compensation costs. Because these injuries can occur at low collision speeds, there is often little vehicle damage, which offers the potential for fraud. This potential for fraud has lead many professional communities to deny that most low speed whiplash type injuries are real, arguing that they reflect psychological trauma or the desire to obtain compensation. In contrast, there is a significant body of medical and scientific research that suggests that low speed whiplash injuries are real. This paper briefly reviews the major positions in this debate, the basic medical, scientific and bio mechanical research that has examined these events, and then tries to develop general conclusions, recommendations and directions for further study or consideration.