The speeds at which an aortic laceration can occur in an auto crash vary greatly. Doctors and engineers use the term Delta V when determining the forces that can cause aortic tears. Delta V refers to a sudden and rapid change in velocity from the speed at which the vehicle was traveling just before impact to the speed at which the vehicle was traveling after impact. So, for example, if a vehicle was traveling at 50 MPH before impact, but 2 seconds after impact it was traveling at 10 MPH, the Delta V would be 40.
Full frontal impact cases causing aortic lacerations have occurred at a Delta V as low as 13 MPH and others have occurred at a Delta V as high as 193 MPH. However, the vast majority of thoracic aortic injuries from full frontal impacts take place when the Delta V is between 28 MPH and 84 MPH.
By contrast, aortic injuries in lateral impacts often happen when the Delta V is considerably lower than in frontal impacts. As an example, there have been reports of thoracic aorta tears when the Delta V was as low as 11 MPH. However, statistically, most aortic injuries in lateral impacts occur when the Delta V is 21 MPH or higher. Because the Delta V range at which aortic lacerations can occur varies so widely, everyone should be concerned about whether they have sustained this type of injury if involved in an automobile crash.
The attorneys at Christopher Ligori & Associates have extensive experience handling cases for the victims thoracic aorta tears as a result of an auto accident. If you or someone you know has suffered aortic damage due to an auto accident, please call the office at 813-223-2929 for a free consultation.
