My car has head restraints. Will they protect me from whiplash injury in a Texas rear-end accident?

A: While cushioned head restraints may reduce the chances of suffering a whiplash injury, there are other factors at work that could result in serious trauma to the head, neck, and spine.

Head restraints are designed to protect drivers and front-seat passengers from a sudden rear impact. However, they are most effective at slow speeds. If the impact from a rear-end collision is severe, it can force the lead car to lift up in the front, tilting the seats backwards. The driver and passenger will often slide up the seat backs with their heads tilted backwards over the headrests. This offers no protection from a head injury and increases the force of impact on the neck, which can lead to traumatic brain injury, spinal damage, or even paralysis.

In addition, many headrests are not properly positioned. A recent study found that less than a quarter of all adjustable head restraints are positioned in a way that would prevent serious injury.

As experienced Houston car crash lawyers, we know that the victims in rear-end car accidents are rarely at fault and are more likely to suffer costly, painful injuries than the driver who hit them.

At Vujasinovic & Beckcom, we work to get our clients compensation for loss of income and medical treatments after a Texas car wreck. To learn more about us, click the link on this page for a FREE copy of our book, The Insider's Guide to Winning Your Texas Car Accident Case, or call us today at (877) 724-7800 for a free consultation.