Fatal traffic accidents impose a severe burden on society. Apart from an external examination of the body, no medical forensic examination is performed in the Netherlands on deceased road traffic victims. Medical imaging techniques can reveal injuries in deceased victims and this information can be used to assess the cause and manner of death. In this paper we illustrate the potential contribution that imaging of deceased vulnerable road users can make to determine the cause of death and the reconstruction of the accident. Between 2012 and 2017, the public prosecutor requested thirteen forensic radiology examinations for fatal road traffic accidents involving vulnerable road users. In all cases the cause of death could be determined based on the PMCT. In the majority of cases we were able to differentiate between primary and secondary injuries and in eleven cases we could identify the point of impact. Determining the speed of the motorized vehicle based on the injury pattern alone is not possible, but the injury pattern does show whether it was a high- or low-energy impact. A total body PMCT provides comprehensive information on injuries and injury patterns in vulnerable road users who die in road accidents. In combination with an external examination, it will yield most of the information needed for a reconstruction including a 3D reconstruction.

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