TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2016//
TI  - The toll of traffic-related fatalities in a metropolitan Italian area through the experience of the Department of Legal Medicine
JO  - International journal of injury control and safety promotion
A1  - Amadasi, Alberto
A1  - Cerutti, Elisa
A1  - Spagnoli, Laura
A1  - Blandino, Alberto
A1  - Rancati, Alessandra
A1  - Gallo, Carlotta
A1  - Mancini, Elisabetta
A1  - Rizzi, Vittorio
A1  - Cattaneo, Cristina
SP  - 197
EP  - 205
VL  - 23
IS  - 2
N2  - Despite the introduction of new traffic laws in Italy, traffic-related deaths are still a huge burden. The study presents data and medico-legal issues behind traffic deaths in Milan between 2001 and 2012 (1506 traffic-related deaths). Data were collected from the database of the Department of Legal Medicine: 79.4% males and 20.6% females (mean age 44.14). The target group concerned traumatic deaths as a consequence of the accident as well as deaths not directly related to an accident. Although 6.1% were non-traumatic deaths (cause of death unconnected to the accident, i.e. because of a heart attack, or when death occurred after survival and cause of death was not related certainly to the accident), multiple skeletal/visceral injuries were the main cause of death (57.9%), occurring in motorcyclists the most (63.7%). Injuries to the skull and brain were the second cause of death (25.9%). Victims were mostly males (79.4%) and drivers (77.6%). Fifty-five per cent were deaths on-scene, while 45% survived. Other variables were also considered: medications, medical history, and drugs/alcohol/smoke. A downward trend in traffic-related fatalities was evident, but the toll is still high. This study should be a glimpse at the actual situation, since it is indicative of a metropolitan area where autopsies are systematically performed.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1745-7300
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17457300.2014.992347
ID  - ref1
ER  -