In a rear-end accident, for instance, during the initial impact, the torso (the area above the waist and below the neck) is pushed forward, followed by the neck and head. This happens in just the first 50 to 100 milliseconds (ms) of the accident. In the next 100 to 200 ms, the lower part of the neck extends backward while the upper part flexes forward and then accelerates backward again, where it is (hopefully) stopped by the headrest. Finally, there is another change in direction where the head and neck are thrown forward, this time (again, hopefully) stopped by a seat belt or airbag. All of this happens in about 350 ms, roughly the same amount of time it takes to blink an eye!
Several types of incidents cause whiplash injuries. Some of the most common whiplash injury causes include the following:
Amusement park rides - Some rides may make your head jerk, which can cause whiplash.
Assault - Being shaken or beaten can cause whiplash.
Car accidents - Motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) are among the most common causes of whiplash.
Rear-end accidents - Being struck from behind can trigger the “back and forth” motion that causes whiplash. Although commonly associated with MVAs, being struck from behind while operating a wheelchair, bicycle, or walking could cause whiplash.
Slip and fall accidents - Individuals who slip and fall may strike their heads on the ground, causing whiplash.
Sports accidents - Accidents while horseback riding or incidents during sports such as football can cause whiplash.
T-bone accidents - Although whiplash is commonly associated with rear-end accidents, any MVA can cause whiplash.
Truck accidents - Truck accidents are MVAs involving large vehicles such as semis or construction vehicles. Truck accidents caused thousands of fatalities and over 100,000 injuries in 2020.