EVALUATION OF THE SAFETY PROBLEM 18 . In the United States of America , between 1988 and 1996 , 805,581 whiplash injuries ( non-contact Abbreviated Injury Scale ( AIS ) 1 neck ) occurred annually in all crashes of passenger cars and LTVs ( light trucks , multipurpose passenger vehicles and vans ) . 272,464 of these whiplash injuries occurred as a result of rear impacts .