Citation

Augenstein J, Perdeck E, Bowen J, Stratton J, Singer M, Digges KH, Malliaris A, Steps J. Annu. Proc. Assoc. Adv. Automot. Med. 1999; 43: 139-158.

Affiliation

University of Miami; George Washington University, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1999, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This paper examines crash characteristics and the resulting injuries to occupants whose seat position is on the side of impact in a vehicle exposed to a side collision. The 1988-96 National Accident Sampling System/Crashworthiness (NASS/CDS) and the 1995-98 William Lehman Injury Research Center (WLIRC) databases are examined. The subset of cases analyzed is those in which there is a vehicle-to-vehicle near-side collision, occupant compartment damage, and no subsequent collision or rollover. 46 cases from the WLIRC database met the study criteria. NASS/CDS database injuries are described on the basis of body region and severity. The WLIRC data contains 21 occupants in near-side vehicle-to-vehicle crashes with MAIS 3+ brain injury. The most frequent source of brain injury was the striking vehicle (35%). Heart injuries were present in 6 of the WLIRC cases (all fatal) and 12 cases contained thoracic aortic injury (11 fatalities). Several similarities were observed regarding the vehicle damage patterns among 7 cases with the least severe door intrusion. Other factors include older occupants, female occupants, and an unrestrained occupant on the far side of the vehicle.

Language: en