UMTRI Project

Investigations of Rollover Crashes

Sponsor: Nissan Motor Company
Investigator: Kathleen DeSantis Klinich
10/01/2002 - 12/31/2003

A project was undertaken to investigate rollover crashes in which a properly restrained occupant was seriously injured. Cases were identified by screening PARs collected from regional law enforcement agencies. In addition to conducting new crash investigations, cases from the NASS-CDS meeting the selection criteria were subjected to a thorough engineering review. Summaries of each case were prepared including detailed analysis of vehicle and occupant kinematics and identification of injury mechanisms. Results of the study were used to identify factors that contribute to injury to belted occupants in rollovers.