We’ve all been encouraged at some point or another to maintain proper posture while seated in a chair. But have you ever considered your posture while driving?
If not, it may be time you started. Having poor driving posture can have these negative effects.
Chronic pain
Poor driving posture can lead to significant neck and low back pain. After all, the average American commutes about 20 minutes to work and another 20 minutes back over the course of five days each week. After years and years of this, the time spent behind the wheel can really add up.
Additionally, the bumps in the road can add to the amount of pressure on the driver’s spine, causing more pain than he or she may experience from having poor posture in a regular chair.
Heightened risk of an accident
Depending on your posture, you may be increasing the likelihood of an accident by the way you are sitting. For example, those who lean back in their chair so far that they cannot see clearly over the steering wheel could easily miss a hazard in the road.
Increased injury in an accident
Research has suggested that having poor posture while driving carries a higher risk of increasing the severity of an injury you could receive in an accident. This is because seatbelts, airbags and other protective measures are designed to help someone who is sitting properly.
If you are slouching or leaning in your seat, your stomach area could be injured or your airbag could cause injury. Worse, these precautions may not protect you from other hazards that ensue during the accident.
An accident could make a bad back much worse
If poor posture has created back issues for you, an accident is likely to aggravate this. However, if you already had a bad back, it can be difficult to prove that the accident caused you injury.
If you find yourself in this situation, call on a personal injury attorney for help proving your case. A lawyer will help you gather evidence and make negotiations to get you the compensation you deserve after a crash.
