Road Traffic accident is an unplanned event occurring suddenly, unexpectedly and inadvertently in an unforeseen circumstance. Low Income and middle income countries accounts for 85% of the death, and for 90% of the annual disability adjusted life years lost because of road traffic injuries. Incidences are more common among the two wheeler vehicles. Head is the most common site to be injured in road traffic accidents. Factors and events contributing to accident may arise from man, machine and environment, may occur either before, during or after accident. Hence the present study was conducted to know the patterns of accident and head injuries involving riders and pillion riders of two wheelers. This study was conducted from 1st April 2009 to 30th Sept 2010 at Victoria Hospital Mortuary, Bangalore. A total of 245 cases of deaths due to two wheeler accidents were reported for the autopsy. Riders constituted (76.33%) and pillion riders (23.67%). Most victims were male (87.75%), 20 to 39 years constitutes 70.20% of victims, most of the accidents have occurred during 6PM - 12 midnight, Helmets used by the victims (64.17%), skull fractures (67.75%) were observed in the two wheeler accidental death. Subdural hemorrhage was the commonest intracranial hemorrhage and rib injuries were commonly associated with head injuries.
Road Traffic Accidents, Riders, Pillion Riders, Two Wheelers, Skull Fractures, Rib Injuries
