Property damage is neither a valid predictor of acute injury risk nor of symptom duration.

After an extensive review of the literature, Croft & Freeman (2005) found only four papers that compared property damage resulting from low velocity motor vehicle crashes to any of the three injury categories (1) injury risk, (2) injury severity, (3) duration of symptoms, which were conducted using acceptable scientific rigor and statistical assessment of the results.

One paper followed a group of 32, another only 26 subjects. In the largest dataset (n=5083 claims), the authors did not interview or examine the subjects. According to Croft & Freeman (2005), a substantial number of injuries are reported in crashes of severities that are unlikely to result in significant property damage.

They concluded that “…property damage is neither a valid predictor of acute injury risk nor of symptom duration” (p. 320). This educational flier correlates with the findings of Trauma Series #14, “Bumpers.”

Reference:
Croft, A. C., & Freeman, M. D. (2005). Correlating crash severity with injury risk, injury severity, and long-term symptoms in low velocity motor vehicle collisions. Medical Science Monitor,11(10), RA316-321.

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