Studies involving live humans have demonstrated that a motor
vehicle accident of as little as 5 mph can induce cervical
(neck) injury. However, other studies have shown that cars can
often withstand crashes of 10 mph or more without sustaining
damage. Symptoms arising from injuries sustained in motor
vehicle accidents were once thought to present immediately
following the accident. However, research and clinic experience
now demonstrate that a delay of symptom onset seems to be the
norm. Also, delay of symptom onset does not eliminate the
possibility of severe injury. Most experts have found that 10
percent of all motor vehicle accident victims become disabled.
Many studies have found a significant number of individuals to
be symptomatic for many months and even years after a motor
vehicle accident. In one such study, 75 percent of individuals
remained symptomatic 6 months after the accident. Another study,
published in the European Spine Journal, found that during the
period of time between the first and sec