Motor Vehicle Accident Study Proves Spinal Injuries Reduced by Air Bags and Seat Belts

An article and editorial published in the Journal of Neurosurgery examined the nexus between air bag and seat belt usage and spinal injuries suffered by car accident and truck accident victims.  This research examined the records of more than 20,000 motor vehicle accident victims age 16 and older admitted to Wisconsin hospitals after car or truck wrecks from 1994 to 2002. This research confirmed that the use of a seat belt and an air bag together was associated with a decreased risk of spine fracture, including more severe fractures. In 2007, there were over 6 million motor vehicle accidents in the United States.  Nearly 2.5 million of those accident victims were injured and more than 41,000 lost their lives.  According to the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 1,110 people lost their lives in motor vehicle accidents in 2007 in Alabama.  This was down 8% from 2006 where 1,207 people lost their lives in car and truck accidents in Alabama.