Journal Published Online: 01 March 1995
Volume 40, Issue 2

Fatalities Involving Bicycles: A Non-random Population

CODEN: JFSCAS

Abstract

Bicycle riders constitute a small subgroup of all roadway deaths. Bicycle/motor vehicle collision fatalities are less frequent than pedestrian/motor vehicle fatalities. Studies have shown that non-fatal injuries of bicyclists are not randomly distributed, but follow age and sex trends that differ in the U.S. and Scandinavia. Although the bicycle-related fatalities reviewed herein do not constitute a complete profile of all such cases within our geographic area, review of these cases does provide insight into the non-random population of fatally injured cyclists in urban and rural America. A retrospective demographic and forensic medical review of 36 bicycle-related fatalities was done to clarify features of this non-random population. Consistent features including age and sex, patterned injuries and risk-taking behavior are discussed. Three of 24 (12%) adult cyclists died of homicidal gunshot wounds.

Author Information

Hawley, DA
Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
Clark, MA
Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
Pless, JE
Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
Pages: 3
Price: $25.00
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Stock #: JFS15342J
ISSN: 0022-1198
DOI: 10.1520/JFS15342J