What EMS Data Reveals About Motor Vehicle Crash Injuries

Motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) are the second-leading cause of death from unintentional injuries in the U.S., with more than 42,000 people killed in 2022—one every 12 minutes. The statistics on related injuries are just as alarming, giving us cause to explore this topic deeper.

Research on the nature of MVC injuries can help EMS, Fire agencies, and healthcare providers benchmark care delivery, assess trauma care, and identify strategies for response improvement.

ImageTrend recently collaborated with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) on a study examining sex inequities in high-risk traumatic injuries from motor vehicle crashes attended by EMS in 2023.

This research partnership gave us the opportunity to analyze data, using subject matter expertise to identify differences in MVC-related injury patterns, generating critical insights to support post-crash care practice.

Analyzing Sex-Based Injury Patterns in 2023 MVCs

The study investigated differences in injury patterns from MVCs based on sex. Out of nearly 250,000 recorded 911 activations for an MVC, 2,589 cases met the inclusion criteria.

Key findings included:

• Men were significantly more likely to have used alcohol or drugs before the crash (8% vs. 7.5%).
• Women experienced airbag deployment more often (76% vs. 71.5%).
• Women had a higher incidence of suspected pelvic fractures (2% vs. 8.1%).
• Men had a higher rate of suspected spinal injuries with new motor or sensory loss (9% vs. 2.4%).

Adapting EMS and Fire Response to MVC Injury Trends

These findings highlight key areas where emergency services agencies can refine their approach to MVC response:

• Refining assessment protocols and training. The significant differences in injury patterns by sex suggest that EMS teams may benefit from tailored assessment protocols. Expanding training on anatomical and physiological variations could improve injury detection and patient outcomes.
• Improving trauma triage accuracy. Integrating sex-specific injury risks into trauma triage guidelines may help EMS providers identify critical injuries sooner. This is especially important for pelvic fractures, which can be difficult to detect during an initial assessment.
• Strengthening substance use awareness. Since men were more likely to have used alcohol or drugs before a crash, EMS personnel may need enhanced training to recognize and account for substance use in treatment decisions.
• Leveraging data for continuous improvement. Investing in data collection and analytics can help agencies refine MVC response strategies, improve patient care, and adapt to emerging trends.

The Value of MVC Research for EMS and Public Health

EMS agencies across the U.S. respond to more than 1.4 million MVC-related injuries every year. Research on these incidents helps refine trauma triage criteria, assessment and treatment protocols, and personnel training, enabling EMS providers to anticipate complications and improve patient outcomes.

Future studies should expand on these findings by exploring additional factors that influence injuries, such as body type, vehicle type, and crash type.

Beyond improving patient care on-scene, EMS agencies can use research to inform public safety campaigns focused on seatbelt use, occupant behavior, and impaired driving risks. Collaboration with public health and transportation agencies could further drive injury prevention efforts, such as studying how vehicle design affects crash injuries.

For example, research shows that female drivers wearing seatbelts have nearly a 50% higher risk of severe injury than belt-restrained male drivers in similar crashes. This has led safety organizations to develop female-based crash test dummies for more accurate data.

Pedestrians are also increasingly at risk, especially in crashes involving large SUVs and pickup trucks. Research-driven modifications to vehicle design could help reduce these injuries.

Finally, federal and state entities can use MVC research to identify high-risk roadways, advocate for infrastructure improvements, and secure funding for safety initiatives. Incorporating EMS data into these efforts helps identify trends, improve safety strategies, and support data-driven decision-making in transportation and public health.

Applying ImageTrend Collaborate Data to MVC Research

To improve resource allocation, public safety initiatives, and emergency response strategies, agencies and researchers can leverage de-identified data from ImageTrend Collaborate to gain valuable insights into MVC patterns, patient care, and other key trends.

Additionally, ongoing work with ImageTrend’s Transport-Related Injury and Violence (TIV) project will help further expand these insights at regional and state levels, providing a broader understanding of injury trends and response effectiveness.

How Collaborate data can support MVC research:

• Analyze real-world data to ensure public safety initiatives align with regional and community needs.
• Use diverse datasets to refine EMS trauma triage, assessment, and treatment protocols based on injury patterns.
• Support data-driven decision-making for traffic safety and emergency response improvements.

ImageTrend’s Clinical & Research Services team and research partners use Collaborate’s national dataset to analyze trends, gain insights, and inform data-driven decision-making. ImageTrend’s team can also assist with research initiatives that support emergency response improvements.

Research on MVC incidents helps EMS agencies refine response strategies, improve patient outcomes, and enhance public safety. By analyzing trends and identifying actionable insights, agencies can make informed decisions that reduce injuries and prevent fatalities.

Leverage ImageTrend Collaborate’s national dataset to uncover key trends and enhance MVC response strategies. With ongoing initiatives like the TIV project, researchers continue to refine regional and state-level insights to support data-driven decision-making.

Ready to discover how data-driven insights can strengthen your agency’s approach to MVC response? Contact us today to explore research opportunities and access key findings.