title: Differential risk of injury in child occupants by passenger car classification.
abstract: In the United States, passenger cars are the most common passenger vehicle, yet they vary widely in size and crashworthiness. Using data collected from a population-based sample of crashes in State Farm-insured vehicles, we quantified the risk of injury to child occupants by passenger car size and classification. Injury risk is predicted by vehicle weight; however, there is an increased risk in both Large vs. Luxury and Sports vs. Small cars, despite similar average vehicle weights in both comparisons. Parents who are purchasing passenger cars should strongly consider the size of the vehicle and its crashworthiness.
authors.affiliation: Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kallan
authors.forename: Dennis R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Durbin
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.forename: Rajiv A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Menon
authors.forename: Flaura K
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Winston
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000367:Age Factors; D001336:Automobiles / Q000145:classification*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004867:Equipment Design / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012306:Risk; D014481:United States; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000209:etiology*