Automobile Accident Injury Prevention

The National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that more than 3 million people are injured in automobile accidents in the United States each year. The most common injuries include whiplash injuries, neck strains and sprains, mid-back strains and sprains, low back strains and sprains, disc herniations, head and brain injuries, chest injuries, leg injuries and knee injuries. Cuts and scrapes as well as penetrating wounds are also very common injuries sustained in automobile accidents. Many automobile accidents result in long-term psychological injuries.

How Can You Help To Prevent Injuries In An Automobile Accident?

One key to preventing automobile accident injuries such as head injuries and whiplash injuries is proper seat belt placement. 
 1. The lap belt needs to be placed low and firmly across your hips and below the stomach. 
 2. The belt should not be uncomfortably tight or so loose that it allows the passenger or driver to move freely about the seat.  
 3. The shoulder harness should be placed across the middle of the chest and should not have contact with the neck.  
 4. The shoulder strap should never be placed behind the back or under the arm. 
  
To get more information about the proper position and use of seat belts including the specific information about seat belt use for children and pregnant women go to the website of the National Highway Safety Administration at www.nhtsa.gov 
  
 Another important step you can take to reduce automobile accident injuries is to have the head rest properly positioned. 
  1. The head rest should be positioned high so that the top of the rest is almost to the top of the occupants head.  
  2. The head rest also needs to be within one inch of the back of the automobile occupant's head.  
  
For more statistical information about automobile accidents go to the Rocky Mountain Insurance Association's website at http://www.rmiia.org/auto/traffic_safety/Cost_of_crashes.asp  
The insurance institute has compiled interesting information about some of the causes of automobile accidents and that information is found at  http://www.iii.org/issue-update/auto-crashes 
The City of Fort Collins, Co. has information about automobile accidents in Fort Collins, Co at the following website. http://www.city-data.com/accidents/acc-Fort-Collins-Colorado.html 
Greg L. Crawford D.C., D.A.B.C.O. 1337 East Prospect Road Fort Collins, CO 80525 (970) 493-2105 http://ftcollinschiropractor.com