Abstract
Introduction: Traffic accidents represent a significant global public health concern, standing out as the leading cause of death among young people. These unexpected events involve vehicles intended for transportation. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study that analyzes deaths from external causes based on autopsy reports, ballistics, toxicology and DO data, registered at the Legal Medical Institute of Guarapuava-PR, in 2020. Results: Of the 380 reports presented, it was found that 151 of them were related to external causes due to traffic accidents (39.7%). Of these, those who were men (80.1%), aged between 20 and 59 years (68.2%) prevailed. Most accidents occurred in the 3rd quarter (24.6%) and in the 4th quarter (31.8%), and farmers stood out among the victims' professions (16.6%). Guarapuava was responsible for 43% of deaths in the IML region, with the majority occurring in non-rural areas (63.6%) and on highways (57.6%). Collisions were the main cause of accidents (50.3%). The vast majority of victims suffered more than 2 injuries (96.0%), and 36.4% had TBI. In addition, 64.2% of victims underwent toxicology tests for alcohol, of which 45.4% showed the presence of the substance in the blood, with the majority with levels below 0.6 g/l. Discussion: When analyzing the variables, we observed disparity in traffic accidents, including sociodemographic characteristics, autopsy results, place of occurrence and toxicology analyses. Conclusion: The study analyzed deaths due to traffic accidents and found a higher prevalence in males. Most accidents occurred on highways and were linked to speeding and alcohol consumption.