Injury Patterns of Restrained Car Occupants in Near-Side Impacts

Analyses of 21 injury producing near-side impacts sustained by three point belt restrained car occupants are presented. Applying a mathematical reconstruction of the vehicle crash dynamics, the impact-enforced occupant trajectories relative to the vehicle structure were determined. For outward occupant trajectories from 10° to 120° with respect to the longitudinal car axis, injury types and injury causations are reported, considering in particular seat belt protection and influence of intrusion, in order to provide accident data applicable for the assessment of seat belt effectiveness and improvement of side impact protection.