Most Common Causes of Accidental Injuries and How to Prevent Them
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, accidental injuries are the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for 136,053 deaths per year. Among those, unintentional falls, motor vehicle accident deaths, and unintentional poisonings are of the top three concerns for the CDC. Accidental injuries and deaths are amongst the most frustrating causes of injury and death, as there is almost always a way that the accident could have been avoided.
Leading Causes of Accidents
Many of the leading causes of accidents are the result of inattention on the victim’s part. From distracted walking to unattended candles, accidents today can be easily avoided with just a little more care and attention from the victim. Below is a list of the most common causes of unintentional injuries and deaths:
- Distracted Walking: Smartphones have invaded our society, and now they are not only a top leading cause of car accidents, but they are a leading cause of walking accidents as well. To firmly understand just how much of an impact smartphones have had on walkers, the number of distracted walking injuries has increased by more than 11,000 since 2000, according to the National Safety Council. While one might think that the majority of distracted walking accidents happened out on the streets, they would be wrong; 52 percent of distracted walking injuries due to cell phones occur at home.
- Slips and Falls: Slip and fall accidents are dangerous no matter who you are, but unfortunately, a majority of slip and fall victims are elderly, and they are much more likely to sustain a serious injury as a result of a slip and fall accident than a person of younger age and with stronger bones. According to the CDC, an estimated 2.5 million elderly individuals are injured in a slip and fall accident each year, with one in five injuries ranked as “serious.”
- Accidental Drowning: According to the CDC, there are an average of 3,536 fatal, unintentional drownings each year that are non-boating related. Each day, approximately 10 people die from accidental drowning, two of which are children under the age of 14. Even if a drowning does not result in death, it can result in permanent brain damage and other long-term disabilities.
- Fires and Burns: Thanks to fire detectors and fire escape plans, the number of accidental injuries and deaths by fire has decreased dramatically in recent years. However, at 486,000 injuries, burns still account for a vast number of emergency room visits, as do fire fatalities, at approximately 3,000 deaths per year. A majority of these injuries and fatalities are accidental, and as much as 73 percent occur in the home.
Consult a Miami Personal Injury Lawyer
Should you become a victim to an unintentional injury, contact The Pendas Law Firm right away. Our Miami personal injury lawyers can evaluate the circumstances leading up to your injuries and determine whether or not you have a personal injury claim on your hands. If you do, you may be able to recover compensation for damages sustained, including but not limited to medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. To learn more, give our office a call at 1-844-200-0000 today. We also serve clients in the Orlando, Daytona, Bradenton, Tampa, Jacksonville, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Fort Myers areas.
Resources:
http://www.nsc.org/learn/safety-knowledge/Pages/news-and-resources-pedestrian-safety.aspx
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/accidental-injury.htm
