FATAL TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS IN THE AREA OF ZAGREB (CROATIA) IN THE PERIOD1940-1981

Data on the medico-legal autopsies of fatally injured persons in traff ic accidents performed in the Department of Forensic Medicine and Crim inology of the Medical Faculty, University of Zagreb during the period s 1940-1944,1960-1962 and 1980-1981 were analyzed. A total of 1813 cas es were included into the study. Traffic trauma as a cause of death am ong all medico-legal cases increased during the period 1940-1981 from 18% to 30%. The tables summarize data on sex, age-groups and participa tion in traffic. The causes of fatal accidents involving pedestrians, car drivers, bicyclists and motorcyclists are demonstrated, Data are s hown on pathologic-anatomical diagnoses of causes of death, blood alco hol findings in fatally injured persons as well as data on the surviva l time following traffic accidents. Changes which occurred in the path ology of fatal traffic accidents in the area of Zagreb relating to the development of traffic are discussed. Medico-legal autopsies can be a very reliable source of data to follow-up many features of current ep idemic of traffic traumas.