On behalf of Law Offices of Mauro Fiore, Jr. posted in Car Accidents on Wednesday, May 22, 2019.
Car crashes can involve anyone from newborns to the elderly. In the majority of crashes, people walk away with minor or moderate injuries thanks to the safety devices used in vehicles today. Sadly, not all collisions end with only temporary injuries.
When you're involved in a collision, a few things happen. First, the force of the impact throws you forward or to the side, depending on the angle of the impact. This can cause whiplash, which strains the neck.
Next, you might hit your head on the window or air bag, if you're in the front seats. If you're not wearing a seat belt, it's more likely that you'll hit the window or windshield, potentially being ejected from the vehicle.
After this, you have to consider the potential debris. Shattered glass, pencils and pens, drinks or food, phones and other items may be in your vehicle and cause additional lacerations or injuries as a result of coming into contact with you at high speeds.
The injuries you suffer from the crash will depend on a variety of factors, such as the angle of the impact, the speed of the impact, what kinds of debris are in the vehicle and whether your vehicle rolls or is crushed.
In terms of prevention or mitigating harms, slight increases or decreases in the speed of your vehicle can have serious impact on the extent of your injuries.
Dr. Logan explains, "The energy [in a crash] is proportional to the square of the speed. So doubling your speed from 50km an hour to 100km an hour increases the energy that has to be dissipated by a factor of four."
"Tripling the speed means nine times the energy."
"If you just increase the speed of your car from 70km by 10 per cent to 77km, the energy absorbed goes up by 20 per cent. So the injuries aren’t just 10 per cent worse—they could be 20 per cent worse," he said.
"If you decrease your speed by 10 per cent, your injuries don’t decrease by 10 per cent—they decrease by 20 per cent.
"Small changes in speed have a big effect on the outcome, both positively and negatively."
Our bodies, as smart and well-designed as they are, can only withstand a certain force. Automotive engineering miracles aside, being cautious of your speed is still instrumental in saving lives. That's why he always recommends that drivers stay below the speed limit. The difference could be living to drive another day.
Remember, not all injuries are apparent immediately
In crashes, it's common to see people suffer from injuries that don't appear right away. That's why it's essential to go to the nearest hospital as soon as you can. Early treatment will help prevent infections and help you be diagnosed and put on the correct treatment plan.
Our site has more on what to do if you're involved in a crash. Early action can help make your case easier.
Updated June 24, 2020. According to Student Edge, drivers should always take care to watch their speed. Not only will doing decrease the chances of an accident but also decrease the severity of injuries you may receive.