WARRENDALE, Pa., July 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A new SAE International book examines how automotive safety professionals can use medical records to avoid and lessen injuries on the road.

Authored by Jeffrey A. Pike, "Forensic Biomechanics" looks at the information contained in medical records and the insight such data can provide on the cause of injuries.

Issues covered include:

-- Restraint use and operation;

-- Injury mechanisms;

-- Injury severity and outcome;

-- Effects of prior medical conditions.

In addition, case studies offer the reader examples of how medical records are used in real-life situations.

The book is written for the automotive safety community, but will interest a wide range of professionals, including allied health professionals, attorneys, accident reconstructionists, biomechanics experts, expert witnesses, forensic specialists, insurance industry researchers, insurance claim processors, nurses and physician assistants.

The list-price of this 248-page book is $99.95; SAE International members can purchase it for $79.96. For more information, please visit http://www.sae.org/technical/books/R-379.

Pike is president of Biomechanics Consulting, Inc., which specializes in forensic and research studies of injury mechanisms and countermeasures. Previously, he was a senior technical specialist at Ford Motor Company, where he retired after 32 years. Also, he was an adjunct professor of biomedical engineering at Wayne State University. Pike has consulted for various agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control, National Academy of Sciences, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and state and local governments. His past publications include two books - Automotive Safety and Neck Injury: The Use of X-Rays, CTs, and MRIs to Study Crash-Related Injury Mechanisms.

CONTACT: Nancy Lewis or Shawn Andreassi, 248-273-4092 or Email Contact

Web site: http://www.sae.org/technical/books/R-379/