The Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Office of Traffic Safety, provides the following definitions related to motor vehicle accidents:


Alcohol Concentration:  The level of alcohol in a person’s body as measured by blood, breath, or urine.


Alcohol-Related Fatal/Injury Crash:  A crash that results in one or more deaths or injuries and in which the investigating officer suspected alcohol involvement or in which the results of an alcohol concentration test were positive for any driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist involved in the crash.


Driver:  The occupant of a motor vehicle who is in actual physical control of the vehicle in transit or, for an out-of-control vehicle, the occupant who was in control before control was lost.


First Harmful Event:  The first event during a crash that caused injury or property damage.


Injury Severity:
Fatal Injury:  An injury that results in an unintentional death within 30 days of the crash.
Severe or Incapacitating Injury:  An injury (other than fatal) that prevents the injured person from walking, driving or normally continuing the activities he or she was capable of performing before the injury occurred.  Includes severe lacerations, broken or distorted limbs, skull fracture, crushed chest, internal injuries, unconsciousness, etc. Hospitalization is usually required.

Moderate/Non-Incapacitating Injury:  An injury (other than fatal or severe) that is evident to the officer at the scene of the crash.  Includes abrasions, minor lacerations, bleeding, etc.  May require medical treatment, but hospitalization is usually not required.


Minor or Possible Injury:  An injury (other than fatal, severe or moderate) that is reported by a person involved in the crash.  Includes complaint or physical pain when no cause is evident, momentary unconsciousness, limping, nausea, hysteria, etc.


Occupant:  Any person who is in or on a vehicle, including the driver, passenger, and persons riding on the outside fo the vehicle.


Passenger:  Any occupant of a motor vehicle other than the driver.


Pedestrian:  Any person not in or on a motor vehicle (eg., a bicycle).


Trafficway:  Any land open to the public as a matter of right or custom for moving persons or property from one place to another.


Truck Crash:  A motor vehicle crash involving one or more of the following vehicles of the following types:  (1) 2-axle, 6-tire single unit truck or step van, (2) 3-or-more-axle single unit truck, (3) single-unit truck with trailer, (4) truck tractor with no trailer, (5) truck tractor with semi-trailer, (6) truck tractor with double trailers, (7) truck tractor with triple trailers, (8) heavy truck of other or unknown type.  Pickup trucks and vans are not counted as trucks.