Injuries to Cadavers Resulting from Experimental Rear Impact

Low-velocity rear-end collisions frequently produce relatively minor damage to vehicles and perplexing injuries to occupants. These collisions are an ever-increasing hazard, especially at intersections, at interchanges, and to occupants of parked or stalled vehicles. In 1976 20% of all motor vehicle accidents were rear-end collisions involving two vehicles, but these accidents constituted only 4% of all motor vehicle fatalities [1]. The neck is the most frequently injured portion of the body, with 10% more cervical injuries reported in females than in males [2,3].