Medico-Legal Update

Road traffic accidents are responsible for a number of deaths and injuries every year in India of which a significant portion is contributed by motorised two wheeled vehicle accidents. In recent years, Meghalaya has witnessed an increased in the ownership of two wheeled vehicles among the population. Therefore, this study was undertaken to determine the pattern of motorised two wheeled vehicular accidents attending a Tertiary care hospital.

This observational study conducted from January 2012 to December 2014, includes consecutive cases of motorised two wheeled vehicular accidents attending the Emergency Department of a Tertiary care hospital in Meghalaya. The data were extracted from the medicolegal register maintained in the Medical Record Department of the Institute.

A total of 368 cases were studied. Most of the victims were males and in the age group of 20–30 years. The majority of accidents occurred between 12 pm and 5: 59 pm. The injuries sustained were mostly to the head and neck (39.70%) and no difference was seen in the localisation of the injuries among the different groups of victims; χ² (8) = 6.92, p = 0.5458.

The victims of motorised two wheeled vehicular accidents were predominantly the young male riders. Most of these injuries occurred in the head and neck region. Since there is no difference in the localisation of injuries among the riders and pillion riders, usage of helmets should not be mandated to the riders alone.