Factors to consider in the pattern of injuries:
(1) distance of fall
(2) contact point of body
(3) landing surface
Most of the falls involved a distance of 10 to 30 feet or from 1 to 3 stories, with many of the deaths accidental and involving people sleeping on the roof of the home. Only about 3% involved a fall more than 40 feet.
Another group consisted of construction workers lacking proper safety measures.
External injuries usually consisted of abrasions and/or lacerations with bruising uncommon.
Skull fractures were present in about 60% of victims. Intracranial injuries included subdural, extradural, subarachnoid and intracerebral hemorrhage.
Other sites of fracture include:
(1) cervical or thoracic vertebrae
(2) ribs
(3) pelvis
(4) extremities
Sites of internal organ damage included:
(1) liver
(2) spleen
(3) lung
Causes of death:
(1) head injury
(2) hemorrhagic shock
(3) respiratory failure (including damage to cervical spinal cord)
