Accident claim news

Researchers make whiplash discovery

The latest research has found that if you startle easily, you may be more likely to suffer the effects of a whiplash injury.

Somebody who is jumpy and doesn't like the sound of a large bang may react excessively to a loud noise and compound a whiplash injury after a car accident.

Researchers into personal injuries and whiplash compensation claims have found that neck muscles contract during a whiplash injury and that if somebody is scared, the contraction happens much more quickly.

A new experimental tool called acoustic startle is currently being used by researchers at Madison's Veterans Hospital in the USA to gauge the effectiveness of post-traumatic stress disorder treatments.

Eye flinch reactions, heart rate and sweat production to loud sounds determine how severe a patient's PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) is.

The cause of pain and contractions in people suffering from whiplash has long been established but emotional reactions contributing to how serious a whiplash injury can be is not as well known.

If somebody reacts, startles and tenses up then they are more likely to suffer a whiplash injury or have a more serious neck injury.

The most serious whiplash personal injuries occur when the startle response is greatest. It is generally advised to those who experience a road traffic accident not to react and to stay as calm as possible to avoid a more serious personal injury.