A Road Traffic Accident ( RTA) can be defined as, an event that occurs on a way or street open to public traffic; resulting in one or more person being injured or killed, where at least one moving vehicle is involved.

1. Pedestrian injuries in road traffic
accidents pptx.
Michael Kino
MBBS,NEIGRIHMS

2. Definition
• A Road Traffic Accidents( RTA) can be defined as,
an event that occur on a way or street open to
public traffic; resulting in one or more person
being injured or killed, where at least one moving
vehicle is involved.
Source: Transport Research Wing, Ministry of Road Transport and
Highways, Government of India 2011

3. Injuries to Pedestrians
Three patterns of injury are often seen.
1. Impact Injuries- when vehicle strike the victim
2. Secondary injuries- due to victim falling on ground
or striking and other stationary object
3. Run-over Injuries- vehicle running over some part
of victim

5. Impact Injuries
• Primary impact injuries:
 Initial impact of the vehicle
 Height of the pedestrian often determine site of injury
 Projection of vehicle may cause specific injuries (bumper
fracture of tibia & fibula of one or both sides)
 Body of the victim may bear design/pattern of the part of
vehicle in the form of imprint abrasion, pattern bruised.
 If the vehicle was breaking violently at the moment of
impact , the front end of the vehicle dips down and the
legs get injured at the lower level
 Helps out to find out the relative position of pedestrian
and vehicle and kind of vehicle involved in the incident.

6. Image source: https://www.scribd.com
Primary impact injuries

7. • The injuries comprises of damage to skin and
fracture of bone also know as Bumper fracture.
• Bumper fracture usually involves tibia. The
fracture is wedge shaped with base of triangular
fragments indicating the site of impact.
• Frequently the bumper fracture are at different
level of two legs or absent on one legs,
suggesting the victim was walking or running
when struck.

8. Image source: https://slideshare.net

9. • Secondary impact injury
 Impact of the body of the person and the vehicle for
the second time
 Person may be lifted off the ground and thrown of the
vehicle
 Here the person usually strike the windshield, bonnet
or placed on the top of car/vehicle.
 Usually found on parts opposite to primary impact
 After the second impact injuries, the victim will be
thrown on the ground

10. Image source: https://slideshare.net

11. Extensive abrasion, bruises and laceration may be
seen
Some pedestrians are ‘run over’ if knocked down
by vehicle.
This will tend to occur if the pedestrians center of
gravity is lower then the impact side or scooped-
up victim being run over by the vehicle
Injuries are variable, depending on the area of
the body involved.
The weight of the vehicle and the surface area of
contact there may be:
a) Tyre trade marks, grazed abrasion
b) Injuries to pelvis, abdomen, and chest (flail
chest)
c) Burning and singeing of skin

12. Image source: www.google.com

13. Secondary Injuries
• Injuries that occurs after second impact injuries when
the victim is thrown off the vehicle on the ground
• Head injuries is common though injuries to other part
may occur
• Some times the victim may be run over by the same
vehicle and the another vehicle
• Brain damage is frequent without any associated skull
fractures
• Fracture of the skull and the ribs due to direct contact
with a surface, and fracture of spine due to
hyperflexion or extension may be seen

14. • Fracture of the limbs are common but apart from
toes of the legs
• Usually it is very difficult to classify the injuries as
primary impact, secondary impact or secondary
injuries
• In pedestrians accidents, the common cause of death
is head injuries and fracture dislocation of cervical
spine.
• Injuries of the chest and abdomen are minimal or
absent

15. Run-over Injuries
• vehicle running over some part of victim
• Severity of the injury will depend upon the
parts of the body run over and the weight of
the vehicle
• E.g.- degloving injury, tyre marks, burns,
avulsion etc

16. References
1. Pillay VV, Textbook of Forensic Medicine and
Toxicology 18th edition Hyderabad: Paras Medical
Publisher(P) Ltd;2017
2. Dr. Reddy Narayan K S, The Essentials of Forensic
Medicine and Toxicology 33th edition New Delhi:
Jaypee Bothers Medical Publishers(P) Ltd; 2014
3. Internet references-
a) https://www.slideshare.net
b) https://www.srcibd.com
c) www.google.com