Medical costs of pediatric motor vehicle trauma.

This study was designed as a preliminary investigation aimed at exploring variations in costs within a specific AIS category and to secondarily discuss the applicability of this type of cost analysis in assessing the effectiveness of a mandatory restraint use law. This study also demonstrated that costs associated with emergency room evaluation of those who are in fact uninjured must be included in cost analyses of a public policy measure, e.g. a mandatory restraint use law.