Abstract
This study is based on 53 cases of actual accidents in which a passenger car was impacted by a truck. The aim of the study is to establish the origins of crash severity for this type of traffic accident. Heavy goods vehicles are defined in this study as having a full weight higher than 3500 kg and less than 38000 kg. The most frequent type of impact is found to be the fronto- frontal impact. Underrun is also an important parameter in impact severity.