Facial injuries in automobile accidents

As a corollary to another investigation automobile accidents, a study was initiated between members of the surgery department who specialize in maxillo-facial injuries and one of the fatality-study team members. A copy of the accident report and any police photographs are obtained and a study of the accident scene and case vehicles is made. An assessment of injury causation is made by the investigator along with frequent consultations with the surgeons. Almost all of the injured were front seat occupants. The most common facial injury producing object is the windshield. In this series, windshield glass caused 50% of the facial injuries with both the passenger and driver being equally involved. The steering assembly - the wheel and end of the steering column - produced 25% of the facial injuries and here, only the drivers were involved.