New York State Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Practice Exam

What types of motor vehicle collisions present the greatest potential for multiple impacts?

1. Lateral and rollover

2. Frontal and rotational

3. Rear-end and rotational

4. Rotational and rollover

The correct answer is: Rotational and rollover

Motor vehicle collisions that include rotational and rollover scenarios present the greatest potential for multiple impacts. In rollover collisions, a vehicle can flip over multiple times as it loses contact with the ground and rolls, resulting in a series of different impacts with the ground, other vehicles, or stationary objects. This movement can cause varying types of forces to act on the occupants and vehicle structure, leading to significant injuries due to repeated impacts. Similarly, during a rotational collision, a vehicle spins around one of its axes after an initial impact, which can also cause additional impacts with surrounding objects or other vehicles. These types of collisions are especially hazardous as they can occur in unpredictable directions, increasing the likelihood of occupants being thrown around inside the vehicle or ejected altogether. While other types of collisions, such as frontal or rear-end collisions, involve significant forces, they typically result in a single impact or a linear series of impacts rather than the complex and varied impacts associated with rollovers and rotational incidents. Thus, the dynamics of these collisions make rotational and rollover scenarios particularly concerning regarding the potential for multiple impacts.