The Leading Cause of Death in the U.S. and How to Avoid It

As humans, it is in our nature to try to do everything we can to avoid, and sometimes cheat, death. To be sure, those with a fear of flying may avoid planes, those who are afraid of sharks steer clear of the ocean, and many of us try to exercise regularly and eat well in order to mitigate fatal health consequences. But what would you say if you learned that the leading cause of death isn't planes, sharks, cancer or heart disease? Surely, you'd want to learn more, and learn what you need to do to stay safe.

The Leading Cause of Death in the United States
According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the leading cause of death in the United States is unintentional injury. The CDC further reports that the number of emergency department visits for unintentional injuries in a single year was 30.8 million, and the number of unintentional injury deaths was 146,571.

What Counts as an "Unintentional Injury?"
An unintentional injury is exactly what it sounds like - an injury that results from an unanticipated accident. Typically, these types of accidents are acute events that happen in a matter of seconds. The CDC reports that the top three sources of unintentional injury deaths for adults are:

• Unintentional falls, which claimed the lives of 33,381 people in a single year;

• Motor vehicle accidents, which killed 37,757 people in the same year; and

• Unintentional poisoning deaths, which resulted in 47,478 lives lost that year.

As a note, for children, the sources of unintentional injury are slightly different. Top causes of unintentional injury deaths for children are falls, drowning, fires and burns, poisoning, suffocation, and transportation-related accidents.

What You Can Do to Reduce Your Risk of Unintentional Injury
It sounds scary, and in truth, it is - you never know when you're going to be involved in an accident that changes the course of your life. However, there are things that you can do to improve your safety, and the safety of your children, and reduce the risk of unintentional injury.

First, consider safety in the home. Candles, fireplaces, and faulty electronics are common sources of home fires, a major cause of injury and death each year. Make sure you always check candles and appliances before going to bed or leaving the house, and replace batteries in smoke alarms regularly.

Additionally, improperly stored prescription pills, chemicals, cleaners, and other dangerous substances can be fatal if ingested - make sure these are stored out of reach and are in a locked cabinet.

And it goes without saying that if you have a firearm in the home, it should be properly stored and locked, especially if you have children in the home.

Outside of your home, prioritize safety in the car. Make sure that you always wear your seatbelt, and that children are in safety seats appropriate for their height and weight.

Our Lawyers Can Help if You've Been Injured
If you are injured in a serious accident in Denver, our Colorado injury lawyers at the office of Anderson Hemmat can help you understand your options and how to recover compensation for your losses. For a free consultation, please call our law firm today or send us a message telling us more about your injuries and how they were sustained.