Which finding is most indicative of a high-energy mechanism in a crash?

• A. Intrusion into the vehicle
• B. Dismounted seats
• C. Deployment of the air bag
• D. Steering wheel deformity

Answer: (A)

In high-energy crashes, the force is sufficient to crush parts of the car and push structural components into the passenger area. Intrusion into the occupant compartment is the clearest sign because it shows the cabin itself was compromised by the crash forces. The amount of intrusion correlates with how much energy was dissipated, so greater intrusion generally indicates a higher-energy event and a greater risk of severe injuries to occupants.

Airbag deployment tells you the deceleration reached a threshold strong enough to trigger the system, but it can occur in a range of crash energies and even be affected by sensor or vehicle differences, so it’s less definitive for judging overall energy. Steering wheel deformity shows frontal loading and chest impact but doesn’t quantify how much energy was transmitted to the interior. Dismounted seats can happen in very severe crashes but aren’t as consistently tied to total crash energy as cabin intrusion.