In a motor vehicle crash, the third collision refers to which of the following?

• A. The vehicle hits another object
• B. The occupant's head hits the windshield
• C. Internal organs colliding with the chest and abdomen
• D. The airbags deploy

Answer: (C)

In crash dynamics, three collisions help explain how injuries happen. The third collision is about internal organs moving and then colliding with the chest and abdomen due to the body's inertia as it decelerates. After the vehicle hits something (the first collision) and the occupant is thrown forward to strike the interior surfaces like the steering wheel or dashboard (the second collision), the internal organs can continue to move and strike the chest wall or other internal structures. That sequence is what leads to injuries from internal organs hitting the body itself, which is why the correct choice describes internal organs colliding with the chest and abdomen. The first collision is the vehicle hitting something, the second is the occupant hitting interior components, and airbags deploying is a protective mechanism, not one of the three collisions.