Rear-end impacts: Vehicle and occupant response

Abstract

Background: There is a controversy regard­ ing the likelihood of injuries sustained when one car strikes another at a relatively low speed with little or no vehicle damage. Plain­ tiffs often claim injuries whereas defendants counterclaim that injuries could not have oc­ curred with such a relatively minor impact. Objective: To review the dynamics of low-speed rear-end collisions resulting in little or no visible damage and to decide whether occupant injury can occur; also, to discuss diagnostic examination and treatment that may be helpful to the clinical practitioner. Data Selection: A Medline search for articles discussing low­ speed rear-end collisions was conducted. Other articles and stud­ ies were reviewed that discussed low-speed rear-end collisions and factors impacting the neuromusculoskeletal system relevant to clinical practitioners. Articles included were human low-speed rear-end tests, lab tests on cadavers, automotive engineering articles, and peer-reviewed journal articles on whiplash. A few live animal and simulation studies were considered for the back­ ground of possible injury mechanism and vehicular deformation. Excluded were non-rear-end collision and single case reports.