Whiplash Claims, Brain Injuries and Seat Belts

With UK roads bursting at the seams from congestion, people racing to be someplace else 5 minutes ago and the unknown waiting around every turn even a short 5 minute journey to the shops can be a hazardous one to take sometimes. In the unfortunate event of a road accident happening what are the likely outcomes? We’ll hopefully any damage sustained is to the vehicle or vehicles involved in the road accident. Unfortunately, even at low speeds, injury, even serious injury, can happen to an individual.

The most common of all compensation cases involving road accidents are for whiplash claims. Even at incredibly low speeds, two cars nudging each other can invoke whiplash in an individual. Take for example our head and brain are extremely vulnerable to receiving any type of heavy blow or knock and in the majority of road accidents when our head is whiplashed, even without striking any object, severe damage and brain injury can ensue.

Our brain is a complex area and although protected by our skull, delicate nerve cells within it are easily damaged by vigorous movement or shaking action. Once a moving head stops suddenly the brain continues its path and strikes the inner skull wall with damaging effect. If the head impacts with an object at force there may be fracturing to the skull and bone splinters can embed themselves within the brain causing internal bleeding and damage.

Wearing seat belts or safety belts in a car has been the law in the UK since 1967. It has saved an estimated 50,000 lives and possibly hundreds of thousands from serious injury since its introduction. In 1991, back-seat passengers must now belt-up as well. I’m sure we all have seen the television ads showing the effects of a back seat passenger being hurled forward and impacting with the back of the drivers head. Extremely Fatal.

At The Injury Lawyers we are experienced professionals in dealing with clients who are seeking compensation for Brain Injury Claims and also Whiplash Claims. Our help, however, comes after the unfortunate road accident. Enforcing all passengers in your vehicle to wear safety belts is common sense preventative action to keeping you, your family and friends safe on the roads.