[Accident analysis and biomechanics: relevance of technical reports for the medical assessment of spinal injuries].

The number of claims linked to whiplash injuries is steadily increasing in most European countries. After minor accidents the question often arises as to whether the occupant could really have been injured. The technical expert may calculate the biomechanical stress imposed on the occupants by the impact from the evidence gathered after the accident. Based on this data the medical expert is able to judge whether this stress was sufficient to produce the injury claimed. The threshold of biomechanical loading necessary for spinal injuries will be deduced from a technical perspective. With the help of examples, the steps required to preserve evidence will be explained.