Pattern of Injuries Among Victims of Fatal Accidents Brought for Medico-Legal Autopsy at a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital in Haryana: A Retrospective Study
Abstract
Background: Accidental deaths are a leading cause of medico-legal autopsy referrals in India. Region-specific autopsy data on fatal injury patterns from Haryana are limited. This study aimed to characterize the pattern and distribution of injuries in fatal accident victims to inform forensic practice and preventive policy. Methods: A retrospective record-based observational autopsy study was conducted at the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, MMIMSR, Mullana-Ambala, Haryana over 12 months (December-January 2025). One hundred and twenty medico-legal autopsy cases of fatal accident victims were analyzed for demographic profile, type of accident, external injury pattern, body regions injured, bone fractures, internal organ injuries, survival period, and cause of death. Results: Of 120 cases, males predominated (83.3%) and the 21–40-year age group was most affected (60.8%). Road traffic accidents accounted for 79.2% of cases. Hemorrhagic shock was the leading cause of death (48.3%), followed by septicemia (22.5%) and multiple organ failure (MOF) (18.3%). Conclusion: Fatal accidental injuries predominantly affect young working-age males involved in RTAs. The abdomen is the most vulnerable body region and hemorrhagic shock the leading cause of death. Strengthening pre-hospital emergency care, road safety enforcement, and emergency surgical capacity are critical to reducing accidental mortality