Pattern of Injuries due to Fatal Road Traffic Accidents in and around Khammam

The present study was carried out at the Dept of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology of a tertiary care teaching hospital, Khammam, for a period of one year from January 2016 to December 2016. The prime objective of present study was to know the incidence, types of road users involved in accidents, crash pattern of accidents, pattern of injuries due to RTA and contributing cause for accidents, mechanism of injury, cause of death and their preventive measures.

Of the768 medicolegal autopsies conducted during the study period, 108 (14.1%) were of vehicular accidents. Majority of the victims were male, 97%, and the age group was 21–40 years, 56.5%.Highest number of cases occurred during day time, 49 (45.4%) and on the national highways, 60 (55.6%). We observed that maximum cases were during winter season, 60 (55.6%), and on weekends. The commonest type of crash pattern was 2 wheeler (2WH) to light motor vehicle (LMV), 62 (57.4%) cases. The commonest road users involved in accidents were2WH, followed by pedestrians.

At the time of accident, majority of the2WH victims were ‘non-helmeted ’, 66 (61.1%) Fissured fracture was the commonest type of skull fracture. The commonest variety of intracranial hemorrhage was subdural. Human error was the most common cause of RTA. We found that83 (76.9%) victims died either ‘on spot ’or within 24 hours of the accident. Head injury was responsible for most of the deaths.