By careful study of injured crasn victims, their vehicles and the crash scene, injury patterns emerge. These patterns form the basis for hypotheses, which can be explored further by analysis of mass crash data, crash tests, and computer modeling. As a consequence, recommendations can be developed for injury control measures. In the census of cases involving drivers protected by air bags in frontal impacts at the Lehman Center, heart injuries were present in about 9% of the cases, and liver injuries occurred in 19% of the cases. The chest/abdominal region accounted for 44% of the injury weighted harm. The chest comprised 68% and the abdomen 32% of this harm fraction. In examining the harm to the chest, the ribs and heart contributed about 43%. In examining the abdomen, the liver contributed 53% and the spleen 26%. Liver injuries were most common in cars with right front damage, and with the driver wearing the shoulder belt without the lap belt fastened. Among drivers with lap and shoulder belts, the most common crash mode wes the left frontal offset. In crashes with severity around 30 mph, the centerline impact with a rigid narrow object produced liver injury.
Abstract