Accidental Deaths on the Rise in the U.S.

A new report from the National Safety Council has found that accidental deaths have reached a “record high” in the U.S. and falls, auto accidents, and accidental poisonings are among the leading causes of these deaths. About 136,000 Americans lost their lives in what is termed “accidental deaths” in 2014; about 42,000 were due to accidental poisonings or overdoses, and 13,486 of these were attributed to opioid overdoses.

The new number for total accidental deaths, however, is about 4.5% higher than in 2014 and over 15% higher than ten years ago. Accidental deaths are the leading cause of death among Americans 42 or younger and the fourth-leading cause overall, after heart disease, cancer, and lower respiratory disease. The three states with the highest accidental death rates are Montana, Oklahoma, and West Virginia, while the states with the lowest rates are California, Maryland, and New York.

While deaths due to falls have increased in the past twenty-five years due to the U.S.’s aging population – from about 10,000 falling deaths in 1992 to about 32,000 in 2014 – another cause of death has also risen sharply in that time frame: accidental poisoning, which the NSC calls “the number-one cause of unintentional death in America.”

“Unintentional poisoning deaths in the adult population were not prevalent until the early 1990s,” claims the NSC. “Since then, this category has skyrocketed to 1st place, driven by unintentional drug overdose – predominantly from prescription painkillers.” “It’s all preventable,” says NSC’s statistics manager Ken Kolosh. “Every accident is preventable…but it’s not necessarily the fault of the victim.”

If you or a loved one has been injured due to the negligence of another person or entity, contact 844 See Mike for a free consultation. We are a Chicago-based injury law firm representing individuals (and their families) who have suffered an injury in an accident. We will handle your case quickly and advise you every step of the way, and we will not hesitate to go to trial for you.

Lastly, 844 See Mike is not paid attorneys’ fees unless we win your case. Our no-fee promise is that simple. You have nothing to risk when you hire us – only the opportunity to seek justice.