Auto accidents are a common cause of injuries seen in chiropractic practices near San Jose because the forces involved in these collisions can affect the neck and back in many ways. Read on for tips on reducing your risk of injury in a car accident.
Wear Your Seatbelt
When it comes to avoiding car crash injuries, using your seatbelt is probably one strategy that you’re familiar with. However, many people still choose to ignore this safety feature or wait until their car is already in motion to use it. Before you begin driving, put your seatbelt on in the correct way to reduce your risk of serious injury or death in a car accident. The top part of the belt should lie snugly across your upper torso and shoulder.
Check Your Headrest
A common type of injury treated by auto accident chiropractors is whiplash. Whiplash occurs when the soft tissues of the neck are hyperextended as the force of a collision sends the head backward and forward or from side to side. Luckily, reducing your risk of this type of injury can be as simple as adjusting your headrest. Move the headrest up or down so that the top of it is level with the top of your head. Next, adjust the headrest so that the distance between it and your head is less than 2 inches. Then, lock the headrest in place. Keeping your headrest at the proper height can help prevent your head from whipping backward and forward in a car accident.
Mind the Airbags
Airbags are a critical safety feature that can help protect you in the event of a collision. However, being too close to the airbags can cause injuries, if they are deployed. To avoid this, adjust your seat position so that your body is a minimum of 10 inches from the steering wheel. For front seat passengers to avoid injuries related to the airbags, the person should not rest his or her feet on the dashboard.
