Research Articles
Medico legal aspects of injuries sustained by occupants of three wheelers in road traffic crashes: a study conducted in a tertiary care hospital in the central province of Sri Lanka
Authors:
K. V. U. K. S. Bandara ,
University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, LK
About K. V. U. K. S.
Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine
A. N. Vadysinghe,
University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, LK
About A. N.
Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine
D. H. Edussuriya
University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, LK
About D. H.
Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine
Abstract
Introduction: Injuries and death due to road traffic accidents (RTA) are a major public health problem in third world countries like Sri Lanka. Sixteen percent of all vehicles used in Sri Lanka are three-wheelers. Statistics reveal a high incidence of impacts involving three-wheelers in Sri Lanka.
Objectives: To determine the nature of the incident, nature of injuries and mechanism of causation of injury due to road traffic crashes among patients admitted to a tertiary care unit in Kandy, Sri Lanka.
Methodology: Data on socio-demographic profile, type of occupant, nature of the incident, mechanism of causation of injury, type of injury, region of the body affected and severity of injury were retrieved from Medico-Legal Examination Forms (MLEF)of patients admitted after three-wheeler crashes to the Teaching Hospital Peradeniya from 2016 to 2018. Data were analyzed using SPSS VERSION22.
Results: The commonest incident was the toppling of the vehicle (55%). Most injuries were sustained by the impact on an object inside the three-wheeler (44%). The commonest injury seen was abrasion (63%) and the majority of injuries were non-grievous (68%). Lower limb was the most affected (45%). More rear passengers were injured than drivers (62%). There was no significant difference in injury pattern between driver and rear passenger group.
Conclusion: Toppling was the commonest type of incident with most injuries being abrasions and sustained by rear-seat passengers by the impact on objects within the three-wheeler.
Recommendations: It is imperative that drivers and passengers are educated regarding safety measures and traffic laws.
How to Cite:
Bandara, K.V.U.K.S., Vadysinghe, A.N. and Edussuriya, D.H., 2019. Medico legal aspects of injuries sustained by occupants of three wheelers in road traffic crashes: a study conducted in a tertiary care hospital in the central province of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Journal of Forensic Medicine, Science & Law, 10(1), pp.25–33. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/sljfmsl.v10i1.7805
Published on
17 Jul 2019.
Peer Reviewed
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