As the saying goes, only two things in life are certain: death and taxes. Of course, we can never know precisely how we will die, but the National Safety Council does collect some interesting statistics as to the likelihood of certain causes of death.
Every year, the NSC produces their annual “Injury Facts Book”, and calculates the odd of dying from specific causes, based upon statistical averages over the entire U.S. population. (An individual’s odds are obviously affected by a number of factors, including that person’s individual genetics, lifestyle, occupation, location, etc.) The 2015 edition notes some interesting odds of death from various external (non-health-related causes):
Poisoning: 1:109
Motor Vehicle Collision: 1:112
Fall from a height: 1:144
Pedestrian accident: 1:704
Drowning: 1:1,113
Firearm discharge: 1:6,999
Airplane accident: 1:8,015
Exposure to radiation or electricity: 1:12,220
Contact with wasps or bees: 1:55,764
Dog bite: 1:116,448
Lightning strike: 1:164,968
Obviously, many of those causes are rather far-fetched or unlikely. What is common through virtually all of those statistics is that most fatalities are preventable. Simple “common sense” safety tips, such as following traffic laws, wearing a seat belt, promptly cleaning up spills, and avoiding unsafe environments can dramatically decrease your risk of injury.
Unfortunately, many times, accidents are unavoidable, due to the negligence and carelessness of another person. If you or a loved one have suffered injury or loss due to the reckless conduct or another person, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses. Please contact the personal injury attorneys at Maynard, O’Connor, Smith & Catalinotto for a free consultation, and to discuss how we can help you.
