Prevent Florida Whiplash Injuries with Proper Headrest and Seat Adjustments
Whiplash is a very common and painful injury that many people suffer. These injuries may range in severity, with the most serious whiplash causing debilitating pain that lasts for months. When people suffer whiplash injuries in car accidents, they may get help from the experienced team at South Florida Injury Centers to alleviate their pain and recover faster. People may take the following preventative measures to help to reduce their risks of suffering whiplash injuries in the future.
Preventing whiplash
Some cars have headrests that have higher ratings than others. Consumers who are looking for new vehicles may minimize their risks of suffering whiplash injuries by purchasing vehicles with headrests that are rated as safer. It is also important for people to make certain that the seats are designed well. In addition, must make sure that you can adjust the headrests correctly to provide the best protection.
How a well-designed seat and headrest work in an accident
If you have a vehicle that has a well-designed seat and headrest, the seat should help to cushion your body during a car accident. When your headrest is properly positioned, your head’s movement backward will be stopped by the headrest. In some car accidents such as rear-end collisions, the physical forces that are released in the accident cause the car’s occupants’ heads and necks to be thrown forward. As the forces quickly subside, the heads and necks are then thrown backward. People who have poorly designed or positioned headrests may have their heads and necks extend backward over the top of their headrests, causing whiplash injuries to their neck muscles, tissues and bones.
Proper headrest and seat adjustment
People who do not properly position their seats and headrests may not benefit from having vehicles with higher safety ratings. It is important to make certain that your headrest is in the correct position so that you can enjoy the maximum protection from whiplash. When you are adjusting your seat and headrest, it is best to have someone else help you with positioning the headrest for you.
Climb into your seat and position its back so that it is at no more than a 20-degree angle. Sitting positions that are more upright help to protect you in rear-end accidents. The headrest should then be adjusted to a height that is equal to or more than the top of your head. When you are driving or riding in a car, the headrest should ideally be about 2 inches behind your head. If you have adjusted your headrest and seat correctly, you are less likely to suffer whiplash injuries in the future.
If you are injured in a car accident and think you may have suffered a whiplash injury, it is important for you to seek medical care as soon as possible. In order to get the maximum benefits from your personal injury protection insurance, you need to seek medical care within 14 days of your car accident’s occurrence. The highly-skilled doctors at South Florida Injury Centers are here to offer you the care and treatment that you need for your whiplash and other car accident injuries. Call us today to schedule your appointment.
