The objective of this study was to obtain better information about deaths labeled as "injuries" in the Mexican state of Jalisco than that reported by official agencies. We reviewed 1989 reports of medical-legal autopsies from the whole state. Deaths were classified in relation to external cause, age, sex and alcohol. It was found that the first five most frequent causes of death by injury were: traffic accidents (14.3 x 100,000), homicides (10.0 x 100,000), other accidents (6.1 x 100,000), accidental asphyxia (3.2 x 100,000) and, suicide (2.3 x 100,000). Four fifths of the deaths were in men. The most affected age group was older than 64 (86.6 x 100,000). The rate of alcohol-related deaths was divided in homicides (51.1%), accidents (26.5%) and, suicides (28.7%), with a statistically significant difference (p less than 0.001). It is concluded that the results of this study are more accurate in their external cause than those obtained through death certificates, and the importance that the registrar's office has for the timely recording and study of injuries is emphasized.