What are the Injury Risks of Low Speed Accidents?

Injury Risks of Low-Speed Accidents

In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, car accidents are unfortunately common. Some can be catastrophic while others can occur at what we might consider trivial speeds. There is a common belief that if the damage to the vehicle is minimal then the risk of injury is also low. However, a groundbreaking 2021 study by Paul Nolet and colleagues published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health has revealed that this conventional thinking about low-speed car crashes might be fundamentally flawed. Dr. Deryk Harting, a patient favorite at one of the highest rated auto injury care medical facilities, Chambers Medical Group of Tampa Bay, provides us with valuable information on this topic.

In the past, insurance companies have denied injury determinations based on biomechanical arguments. The core of this reasoning was the comparison of head accelerations in low-speed car crashes with those experienced during Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) such as sneezing or stepping off a curb. This comparison was used to suggest that if these ADLs did not cause injuries, neither would low-speed car accidents. This line of thinking was challenged by the authors, who examined the scientific validity of this biomechanical approach.

The study contradicted the established assumption that acceleration alone could be a reliable metric for injury risk. Researchers compared head accelerations in low speed, rear impact crash tests to those in routine ADLs. The results were astonishing: the forces experienced during a low-speed collision were approximately 13 times greater than those in everyday activities. Moreover, the duration of impact in crash pulses was a shocking 70 times longer than in ADL pulses. These findings discredited the previous biomechanical argument, highlighting the large disparity between the risks associated with low-speed collisions and routine activities.

Epidemiological data further supported these results. In real world scenarios, injury rates from minimal or no damage crashes were found to be greater than 20%. The risk of injury was substantial even at speeds as low as 4.9mph, ranging from 12% to 47%. This contrast between the perceived risk based on vehicle damage and the actual risk based on scientific analysis stressed the need for a change in our understanding of low-speed car accidents.

The implications of this study extend beyond medical-legal contexts into personal safety. It pushes back on the tendency for individuals to minimize their injuries or symptoms sustained in low-speed car accidents, assuming that minimal vehicle damage correlates with minimal injury risk. The research also emphasizes the importance of seeking medical treatment after any car collision, regardless of the severity. By doing so, individuals can protect their health and make informed decisions about their recovery.

Furthermore, these findings raise important questions about the insurance industry’s approach to claims involving low speed crashes. The study’s conclusions call for a reevaluation of the criteria used to assess injuries sustained in low-speed car accidents. Understanding the true risks associated with low-speed crashes is essential not only for medical professionals and legal experts but for any individual who may find themselves in such a situation.

All in all, this study urges us to question our existing beliefs and encourages a more accurate evaluation of the risks associated with low-speed car accidents. Embracing a new perspective should allow us to adopt a safer and more knowledgeable approach when dealing with the aftermath of these accidents while also prioritizing the health of individuals on the roads.

Study Citation:

Nolet PS, Nordhoff L, Kristman VL, Croft AC, Zeegers MP, Freeman MD. Is Acceleration a Valid Proxy for Injury Risk in Minimal Damage Traffic Crashes? A Comparative Review of Volunteer, ADL and Real-World Studies. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Mar 12;18(6):2901. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18062901. PMID: 33809101; PMCID: PMC8001694.

Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8001694/#:~:text=The%20results%20of%20our%20analysis,injury%20risk%2C%20is%20scientifically%20invalid.

— This article is written by Deryk Harting, DC, one of the members of Chambers Medical Group’s team of car accident chiropractors who offer a variety of treatments and therapies ranging from diagnostic testing to various soft tissue therapies for car accidents and injuries in Florida.

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Have you been in a car accident? If you or somebody you know has been in a car accident, be sure that you seek medical attention from a car accident doctor or car accident chiropractor to treat your injuries. Visit Chambers Medical Group  to receive world-class medical treatment for your injuries.

Chambers Medical Group has car accident medical clinics in the following locations:

• Car Accident Medical Clinic in Tampa
• Car Accident Medical Clinic in Plant City
• Car Accident Medical Clinic in Brandon
• Car Accident Medical Clinic in Lakeland
• Car Accident Medical Clinic in Sarasota
• Car Accident Medical Clinic in Louisville
• Car Accident Medical Clinic in Lexington
• Car Accident Medical Clinic in Florence