A tremendous volume of research has been conducted to determine the amount and extent of these injuries. Because in most cases these are not life threatening, the insurance industry, spouses of the victims and doctors really do not understand the ordeal that these individuals are suffering through. In almost every instance, the whiplash patient was the victim of someone else's neglect. Furthermore, in almost every instance, the occupant was unaware of the impending collision and unable to brace themselves. This single factor may be one of the most important reasons why whiplash injuries are so misunderstood.
Gender plays an important role in whiplash injuries.
Research shows that females suffer at a greater degree than males. Some theories are that the female neck is less muscular, has a smaller circumference, and in some cases is longer than those of males, which would all lead to greater forces involved in the creation of their injuries. The first phase of a whiplash injury occurs between 0-100 milliseconds after impact. In this phase, the car may move only 4-6 inches while the occupant remains motionless. The occupant's hips and lower back will move forward and generally upward in the seat.