How To Properly Adjust Your Headrest To Prevent Whiplash
By Arthur D. Leritz, Attorney at Law
You may not give it much thought when driving, but a properly adjusted headrest in your car can reduce the chance of a neck or head injury in a motor vehicle collision by 11%.[1] I used to think of this often when my wife had a 1967 VW bug as her daily driver – it had no headrests at all. Head restraints have come a long way since first being introduced by Volvo in 1968, but all too often headrests are not properly adjusted or are inadequately designed, especially for passengers in the back seat. Whatever you drive, a properly positioned headrest will provide the maximum protection if you are involved in a rear-end collision.
In the United States, rear-end crashes occur every 17 seconds.[2] A properly adjusted headrest can mean the difference between a mild injury or serious injuries when a motor vehicle collision occurs.
A direct injury can occur to the neck muscles caused by reflex muscle activation in response to a rear-end motor vehicle collision. This occurs most often in the sternocleidomastoid muscle and the semispinalis muscle. In addition, elevated levels of the enzyme creatine kinase, a marker for muscle injury, have been recorded in whiplash patients 24 hours after the collision.
There is a reliable way of properly adjusting the headrest in your car. Just follow these simple steps:
Sit in your driver seat straight up, not leaning to the side.
Ideally, the top of the head rest should be as high as the top of your head, but no less than the top of your ears.
When seated normally, your head should be no more than 4 inches away from the headrest.[3]
Several modern cars come with active headrests, meaning the headrest will adjust automatically in a rear-end collision by moving up and forward to cradle the head. Be sure to follow the manufacturer recommendations when adjusting this type of head rest.
If you are considering purchasing a new vehicle for 2022, the following are top-rated by the Institute for Highway Safety for their head restraints: [4]
Small Cars:
Honda Civic
Honda Insight
Mazda 3
2021 Subaru Crosstrek
Midsize cars:
Honda Accord
Kia K5
Mazda 6
Nissan Altima and Maxima
Subaru Legacy and Outback
Ford Mustang
Toyota Camry
Midsize Luxury Cars:
Acura TLX
Lexus ES 350 and IS
Mercedes C-Class
Tesla Model 3
Volvo S60 and V60
Large Cars:
Kia Stinger
Large Luxury Cars:
Audi A6 and A7
Genesis G70, G80, and G90
Volvo S90, V90 and V90 Cross Country
Small SUVs:
Chevrolet Trailblazer
Ford Bronco
Hyundai Tucson
Mazda CX-3, and CX-30, and CX-5
Mitsubishi Outlander
Nissan Rogue
Subaru Forester
Volvo XC40
Midsize SUVs:
Ford Explorer
Hyundai Palisade and Santa Fe
Mazda Cx-9
Nissan Murano
Subaru Ascent
Toyota Highlander
Volkswagen ID.4
Midsize Luxury SUVs:
Acura MDX and RDX
Audi Q5
Cadillac XT6
Genesis GV70 and GV80
Hyundai Nexo
Lexus NX
Mercedes GLE-Class
Tesla Model Y
Volvo XC60 and XC90
If you are looking to purchase a used vehicle and want to check the safety ratings for its head restraint system, go to www.iihs.org and use the search function to find your vehicle.
The attorneys at Adler Giersch. P.S. stand ready and willing to assist your patients when they have been involved in a motor vehicle collision.
[2] https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2012/12/how-to-save-your-neck-in-a-rear-end-crash/index.htm
[3] Ibid.
[4] https://www.iihs.org/ratings/top-safety-picks#award-winners
Adler Giersch | 206.682.0300 | 333 Taylor Ave North, Seattle, WA 98109 | www.adlergiersch.com
