What Unintentional Injuries Cause The Most Deaths?
We have all suffered from unintentional injuries in our lives. No matter how careful you are, back luck can strike at any moment. Unfortunately, these accidents can sometimes result in far worse than any injury. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, these injuries continue to be the fifth leading cause of death overall, and the leading cause of death for those under 35 years of age. Continue reading to learn about the most common causes of wrongful death. Motor Vehicle Crashes According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, approximately 36,000 people died in motor vehicle crashes in 2019. Noting this statistic, it is no surprise that the number one cause of wrongful death is automobile accidents. The five most common reasons car crashes occur are: Distracted driving Driving under the influence Speeding Aggressive driving Inclement weather Poisoning Poisoning is currently competing with motor vehicle crashes for the leading cause of wrongful death. This is primarily due to the prescription drug abuse epidemic. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 115,000 people died of opioid overdose in 2017. Poisoning from normal, everyday circumstances are very common as well. According to Poison Control statistics from 2018, one poison exposure was reported to U.S. poison control centers every 15 seconds. Also, 76.7 percent of poison exposures reported to U.S. poison centers in 2018 were unintentional. A large majority of poisoning reports happened from common household items such as: Carbon monoxide Lead poisoning Pesticides Cleaning products Batteries Falls Falls are the third most common cause of unintentional injuries. Falls mostly occur among older adults, ages 65+. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a total of 29,668 U.S. residents aged 65+ years died as the result of a fall in 2016. If a patient survives a fall, they may still suffer from serious injuries such as broken bones and head injuries. The CDC also found that falling once doubles the chances of falling again. Suffocation Suffocation is the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among infants under age 1. Most of these types of deaths occur due to soft bedding like pillows or blankets. Babies should always have a firm foundation to sleep on, unlike that of an adult mattress or couch. Another way babies can suffocate is by choking. Avoid feeding babies overly hard foods, and be sure to always cut foods up into small pieces. Make sure that an adult is present to supervise mealtime as well. Drowning Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children ages 1 to 4. The majority of drownings occur in residential swimming pools and in open water sites. Children can drown in as little of one inch of water, so adult supervision is vital when bathing or playing in open water. Teaching children basic water survival skills is vital to minimizing their risk in the water. Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton is Here For You When unintentional injuries lead to death, the grief can be crippling. At Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton, we understand that nothing can erase the pain of losing someone you love; however, our compassionate attorneys have been fighting for Utah citizens since 1993 and want to help you receive the compensation you deserve. We have offices throughout Utah County and West Jordan, Utah. Contact us today.