A young Australian woman is urging drivers to reconsider their choice of hairstyle behind the wheel after a common hair accessory caused her a serious head injury during a car crash.
The Moment of Impact
Ella Carter, a 22-year-old from the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, was driving with her boyfriend to a party in December when traffic came to a sudden halt. In an instant, a four-wheel drive vehicle, travelling at approximately 60 kilometres per hour, rammed into the back of her car. The driver had failed to notice the stopped traffic.
"I was immediately thrown forward and locked in place by my seatbelt," Ella recounted. "Almost instantly I felt something shatter in my hair. I was really dazed and confused and thought it might've been glass."
Seconds later, a searing pain erupted in the middle of her head, and she felt her hair falling loose. It was then she remembered the plastic claw clip she was wearing. The force of the collision had caused it to crumble against her skull.
Lasting Injuries and a Stark Warning
While the broken clip did not puncture her skin, the trauma it inflicted was significant. Ella was left with a heavy concussion that lasted for three weeks and continues to suffer from whiplash, requiring ongoing physiotherapy. She has also been unable to work since the incident.
"I'm still getting physio for the whiplash and I'm still not able to work," she said, adding that even her sunglasses were launched from her head in the crash.
Medical professionals later informed her that the outcome could have been far more severe had the clip been made of metal, a scenario they reportedly witness with alarming frequency. Now recovered enough to share her story, Ella feels compelled to warn others.
"I would definitely warn people to never wear a claw clip in the car while driving," she stated. "I genuinely didn't think about it because it's just my everyday hairstyle. But anything can happen in an instant, even if you're doing nothing wrong."
Viral Reaction Reveals Widespread Ignorance
Ella's videos detailing the ordeal have amassed a staggering nine million views combined, sparking a massive online conversation. While thousands of commenters admitted they had no idea of the risk, many others revealed the danger is well-known in certain circles.
Driving instructors and medical personnel were particularly vocal in the responses. "First thing my driving instructor insisted on is no claw clips!" one person wrote. Another referenced a pathologist's TikTok video citing claw clips as a documented cause of death in car accidents.
The overwhelming response, which included many people vowing to never drive with their hair clipped up again, proved to Ella that her warning was necessary. Despite some claiming it is common knowledge, the reaction highlights that many young Australians remain unaware of this hidden driving hazard.
