In the sequence of events in a motor vehicle collision, what is the first event?

• A. Vehicle impact with Object
• B. Occupant impact with vehicle
• C. Occupant organs impact solid structures of the body
• D. Vehicle impact with Road

Answer: (A)

In a crash, injuries unfold in a predictable order because of inertia and rapid deceleration. The first event is the vehicle striking an external object. Once the vehicle is suddenly stopped by that impact, the occupants inside keep moving forward relative to the car, so the next event is the occupant colliding with interior surfaces like the dash or steering wheel. That interior impact is followed by the third collision, where the organs inside the body can strike solid structures, causing internal injuries. The road surface itself is the environment the vehicle is on and may be involved in the initial contact in some crashes, but the sequence described places the first external impact with an object as the initial event.