BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The American National Standard (ANSI D16.1-2007) classifies a vehicle as ―any motorized (electrically or mechanically powered) transport device designed primarily for moving persons or property along with the device itself from one place to another‖. A motor-vehicle accident is a transport accident that: (1) involves a motor-vehicle in-transport; (2) in which the first harmful event is not produced by an external event (such as the discharge of a firearm or explosive device), and (3) does not directly result from a cataclysm where the timing is such that the cataclysm is occurring at the time of the accident. (See Glossary, Cataclysm). The National Road Safety Commission describes casualties as persons killed, seriously injured, and slightly injured. The word casualty, for the purpose of this study, shall be used to refer to any person involved in a vehicular accident.