Forensic Physics of Vehicle Accidents

MAR 01, 1987

The reconstruction of accidents and the analysis of the mechanisms of injury are the focuses of an emerging interdisciplinary field that is leading to safer vehicle design.

DOI: 10.1063/1.881102

Arthur C. Damask

Accidents are the third largest cause of death in America, taking 140 000 lives per year. Only heart attacks and cancer kill more people. Vehicular accidents such as the one shown in figure 1 account for 44 000 of the accidental deaths and cause 80 000 permanent disabilities through trauma to the brain or spinal cord. The direct and indirect costs of all automobile accidents run close to $60 billion per year.

References

1. Injury in America, National Academy Press, Washington, DC (1985).
2. The Economic Cost to Society of Motor Vehicle Accidents, report no. DOT‐HS‐806‐342, National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, US Department of Transportation (1983).
3. Pedestrian Impact Injury and Assessment, pub. no. P‐121, Society of Automotive Engineers, Warrendale, Pa. (1983).
4. H. B. Pritz, in Pedestrian Impact Injury and Assessment, pub. no. P‐121, Society of Automotive Engineers, Warrendale, Pa. (1983), p. 67.
5. J. C. Collins, Accident Reconstruction, Charles C. Thomas, Springfield, III. (1979).
6. R. R. McHenry, D. J. Segal, N. J. Deleys, in Proc. 11th Stapp Car Crash Conference, Society of Automotive Engineers, Warrendale, Pa. (1967), p. 8.
7. K. L. Campbell, Energy Basis for Collision Severity, paper no. 740565, Society of Automotive Engineers, Warrendale, Pa. (1974).
8. R. R. McHenry, Extensions and Refinements of the CRASH Computer Program, Part II: User’s Manual for the CRASH Computer, pub. no. PB‐252 115, National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, US Department of Transportation (February 1976).
R. R. McHenry, B. G. McHenry, in Proc. 30th Stapp Car Crash Conference, Society of Automotive Engineers, Warrendale, Pa. (1986), p. 333.
9. Field Accident Data Collection, Analysis, Methodologies, and Crash Injury Reconstructions, pub. no. D‐159, Society of Automotive Engineers, Warrendale, Pa. (1985).
10. Human Tolerance to Impact Conditions as Related to Motor Vehicle Design, pub. no. J885, Society of Automotive Engineers, Warrendale, Pa. (1980).
11. A. C. Damask, Medical Physics, Vol. I: Physiological Physics and External Probes, Academic, New York (1978).
12. H. Yamada, Strength of Biological Materials, Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore (1970).
13. The Human Thorax—Anatomy, Injury and Biomechanics, pub. no. P‐67, Society of Automotive Engineers, Warrendale, Pa. (1976).
14. Occupant Crash Interaction with the Steering System, pub. no. SP‐507, Society of Automotive Engineers, Warrendale, Pa. (1982).
15. D. C. Viano, C. C. Culver, R. C. Haut, J. W. Melvin, M. Bender, R. H. Culver, R. S. Levine, in Proc. 22nd Stapp Car Crash Conference, Society of Automotive Engineers, Warrendale, Pa. (1978), p. 401.
16. J. Versace, in Proc. 15th Stapp Car Crash Conference, Society of Automotive Engineers, Warrendale, Pa. (1971), p. 771.
17. L. E. Kazarian, J. W. Hahn, H. E. von Gierke, in Proc. 14th Stapp Car Crash Conference, Society of Automotive Engineers, Warrendale, Pa. (1970), p. 121.
18. L. M. Patrick, H. R. Lissner, E. S. Gurdjian, in Proc. Seventh Stapp Car Crash Conference, Charles C. Thomas, Springfield, III. (1965).
19. A. K. Ommaya, P. Yarnell, A. E. Hirsch, E. H. Harris, in Proc. 11th Stapp Car Crash Conference, Society of Automotive Engineers, Warrendale, Pa. (1967), p. 73.
20. A. C. Damask, C. E. Swenberg, Medical Physics, Vol. III: Synapse, Neuron, Brain, Academic, New York (1984).
21. T. Harper, Am. Bar Assoc. J. 70, 80 (November 1984).

More about the Authors

Arthur C. Damask. Queens College of the City University of New York.