1Forensic Medicne, M M Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Mullana, Ambala.
2Forensic Medicne, Pt. B. D. Sharma Pgims, Rohtak, Haryana.
The intervals between injury and death in 450 fatalities after road accidents were analyzed and correlated with other data. Pedestrians were commonest group involved (28.7%) followed by occupants of cars (25.8%) and Motorcyclists (23.1%). In round figures, a third of series died with in half an hour, two third by 12 hours and three Quarter by 48 hours after accidents. Ninety percent of victims died with in one week. The pattern of survival time could be divided into three phases.There was an early steep decline the 38.4% dying during first half an hour and 40% with in one hour of accident. This was followed by longer stage during which rate of dying decreased progressively in logarithmic fashion. The cumulative tolls were 60.2% by 6 hours, 67.8% by 12 hours, 77.1%by 24 hours and 90% by 7 days. Between 7 to 14 days another 7% died.
The remaining 3% succumbed during subsequent weeks, the longest survival period being thirty days and 15 hours. 46.6% of vehicle occupants and 31.9% of pedestrians died with in an hour of injury and the excess of rapid deaths was mainly due to a higher proportion of head injuries. Serious cerebral trauma dominated all groups of road user and multiple injuries were common.
Road Accidents, Survival Period, Fatal Injuries
