2-VEHICLE SIDE IMPACT CRASHES - THE RELATIONSHIP OF VEHICLE AND CRASHCHARACTERISTICS TO INJURY SEVERITY

Injury type and severity among front outboard occupants of passenger v ehicles struck in the side by another passenger vehicle and recorded i n the United States National Accident Sampling System Crashworthiness Data System were examined in relation to the location of impact, the a ngle of impact, occupant gender and age, seat belt use, the weight and body style of the side-impacted vehicle, and the weight and body styl e of the striking vehicle. Elderly occupants were three times as likel y as younger occupants in similar crashes to be seriously injured. Ser ious injuries were also more likely for occupants seated on the struck side and occupants of lightweight passenger vehicles. After accountin g for vehicle weight differences, struck-side occupants of cars were s till much more likely to be seriously injured than struck-side occupan ts of light trucks. However, among occupants seated on the side of the vehicle opposite the impact, the likelihood of serious injury was hig her for those seated in light trucks. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.