An analysis of autopsy reports from the University Hospital Olomouc (1969–2024) shows an increase in the severity of injuries sustained by accident victims. This serves as an indirect indicator of the impact of improved care on the survival of pedestrians and cyclists.
Summary
Changes in post-crash care over the past 50 years may have influenced the survival chances of pedestrians and cyclists. We therefore analyzed ISS scores derived from autopsy reports (1969–2024) for a sample of cases at the University Hospital Olomouc in the Czech Republic. The data revealed a statistically significant increase in the lower threshold of injury severity, indicating a decline over time in the proportion of less severely injured individuals among the fatalities. While consistent with improvements in post-crash care, this trend could also reflect changes in the nature of the accidents themselves, as well as in documentation or reporting practices. Consequently, the result should be viewed merely as an indirect indicator of changes in survival outcomes.
Citation
Bíl M, Andrášik R, Svrchokryl V, Dobiáš M, Bílová M (2026) Vulnerable road user fatalities are associated with greater trauma: Long-term autopsy-based trends in Czechia (1969–2024). PLOS ONE 21(9): e0358958. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0358958