A Study of Pedestrian Injuries and Fatalities in Road Traffic Accidents in and around Gulbarga City

Vehicular accidents have assumed the proportion of an epidemic and are one of the important causes of mortality in all age groups and in all countries. Among all type of road user's pedestrian is one of the most vulnerable groups to get most fatal injuries in road traffic accidents. Most common deaths in road traffic accidents were among the pedestrians.

Totally 118 cases of pedestrian injuries in road traffic accidents were studied. The most common age group affected was 0-20 years. Most common deaths in road traffic accidents were among the pedestrians (44.86%). Maximum number of victims was injured while crossing the road (60.16%). Fracture of ribs and sternum were seen in 32 cases. Injury to the heart was seen in 9 cases, injuries to the lungs in 25 cases. Injury to liver was seen in 27cases. Fracture of skull was seen in63 cases and intracranial hemorrhages in 71.majority of pedestrian victims of road traffic accidents died within one hour after injury (35.5%). Most of the pedestrians died because of hemorrhage and shock and head injuries (66.16%).