[Fatal bicycle accidents involving right turning heavy goods vehicles--forensic pathological findings]

The objective of this study was to describe the forensic pathological findings in autopsies of cyclists involved in fatal accidents with right-turning, heavy goods vehicles (HGV).

Retrospective analysis based on medico-legal autopsy reports concerning persons involved in fatal traffic accidents in Denmark between 1996 and 2005. Cyclists and moped-riders hit by a right-turning HGV were included. Forensic pathological findings, blood alcohol levels, place of death as well as several traffic parameters were registered.

Twenty-five autopsies were included. In 20 cases (80%), death had occurred instantly. Also in 20 cases (80%), injuries in at least three body regions were found at autopsy. There were no cases with injuries in only one body region. There were fewest cases with head/neck injuries. In 16 cases, injuries in one or more body regions were so severe as to be described as complete crushing (conquassatio).

In traffic accidents involving cyclists and right-turning HGVs, the cyclist is more often run-over rather than merely hit by the HGV. This mechanism of injury is crucial for both the severity and the distribution of injuries. This is reflected in this study by the number of multiple body regions involved, the number of complete crushing injuries and by the number of cases where death had occurred instantly. Future efforts should focus on the prevention of these accidents.