Low Speed Car Accident Injuries

The article, Reconstructionists in the M.I.S.T written by Edward P. Olff seeks to debunk the research conducted in the early nineties which set the speed of 5mph as the threshold for injury in motor vehicle crashes. This corresponded with the Minor Impact Soft Tissue (MIST) protocol which a major U.S. auto insurer came up. Basically, the author feels vehicle damage whether major or minor does not indicate occupant injury. He contests that there are several factors that should be taken into consideration when not just the extent of the vehicle damage to determine whether or not there is an actual injury suffered by the occupant.

Damage and Risk of Injury

Here are some of the points he raised in argument against the MIST protocol for prediction of injuries.

• Property damage is an unreliable predictor of injury risk or outcome in low velocity crashes as there is still a substantial number of injuries reported in crashes of little to no property damage. An example would be whiplash injuries
• Volunteers in test crashes are often healthy, young adult volunteers. A crash (low-speed or otherwise) which did not injure a younger passenger may cause a middle-aged and less fit people injury and disability.
• Crash tests also mostly contain subjects who were strapped in and positioned correctly. In the real world, not everyone may be wearing a seatbelt and some would not have the proper head rest.
• Vehicle mass is also a factor as people in smaller vehicles who get struck by much larger ones are more likely to be injured. Smaller cars are made "stiffer" by manufacturers to keep them up to safety standards. But this stiffness may also work against occupants as the energy of the crash would expose occupants to greater force.
• Head restraints in a lower position (or a poorly positioned head restraint) can intensify an injury as this will act as a fulcrum that would allow the head to extend over and above it.
• The author also pointed out that while seat belts have been proven to save lives, the use of seat belts has increased injuries in lower speed crashes.
• Gender was also indicated as a factor as females have a higher risk for injury which is attributable to two factors: women have less durable body structure and they have a more violent kinematic response to trauma because of a smaller muscle mass.
• People beyond the age of 30 also have an increased risk of injury. This is caused by increased stiffness, slower reflexes, decreased strength, slower healing, arthritic changes and previous injuries. Pre-existing disorders of the spine may also increase the injury.

Always Get any Potential Injuries Checked Out

In car accidents, just as the author emphasizes, each case must be evaluated individually and not just on common perceptions such as a car with no damage would rule out any injury on the part of its occupants. While vehicle damage is a piece of important evidence, it is not the only thing to take into consideration. Human factors should be explored, the dynamics of the crash and the speed. While indeed a picture can be worth a thousand words, it is still advisable to go beyond the physical evidence to actually determine the extent of the injuries.

• This article is provided for informational purposes only. If you need help with an Injury Law question, click here to consult with a Rodney Mesriani or a Personal Injury Lawyer in your area.