Page 9 - Motor
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Temporary ejection -- when the occupant exits the side
window briefly in a rollover, and the rolling vehicle crushes
the head -- will result in extensive crush injuries. In these
cases, the decedent may remain in the vehicle when it comes
to rest and have fatal crushing head trauma. A dent with
blood and/or brain tissue may be found on the roof of the car
over the occupant's position.
As mentioned earlier, the driver may be found in the driver's
seat after a rollover accident with extensive head trauma and
a bloody dent in the roof over him. In this case, the driver
was partially ejected and his head was caught between the
vehicle's roof and the ground as it rolled.
Falls are a leading cause of truck driver injuries
Jumping from the cab, top step, fifth-wheel area, or
trailer deck increases your risk of injury by impacting your
joints, lower back, and lower limbs. Jumping from the cab
floor or trailer also increases your risk of a slip, trip, or fall
injury when you land on the ground.
Jumping from the cab of a tractor unit can create an
impact force of 5 to 7 times your body weight. So, if you
weigh 200 lb. (91 kg), the impact force of jumping from the
cab is almost 1500 lb. (680 kg).
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