Georgia Injury Lawyers Blog
As a personal injury law firm, we deal primarily with accidents. While most of our cases involve only serious injuries, some of these accidents unfortunately result in death. Understanding the leading causes of preventable injuries and death is perhaps the first step in prevention.
If you or a loved one have been involved in an accident, the personal injury attorneys at Slappey & Sadd can help. Established in 1992, we have decades of experience in helping people get the compensation they need to put their lives back together. For a free consultation and case evaluation, call us at 404-255-6677 or contact us online to speak with one of our Atlanta accident lawyers.
Preventable Deaths Nationwide
According to the most recent statistics reported by the National Safety Council, there were 47.2 million injuries in 2017 with 169,936 preventable deaths. This represents a 5.3% increase over 2016 and a shocking 96% increase over the last 25 years. The NSC reports that the following causes are responsible for 82% of all preventable deaths:
- Poisoning (including overdoses) – 64,795 deaths
- Motor vehicle accidents – 38,659 deaths
- Falls – 36,338 deaths
Shockingly, poisoning accounts for almost twice as many deaths as motor vehicle accidents. It’s also interesting that falls account for almost as many deaths as motor vehicle accidents.
Preventable Deaths in Georgia
The NSC also provides statistics for each state. Georgia’s rate of preventable deaths has climbed from 38.3 deaths per 100,000 people in 2000 to 45.2. However, unlike the rest of the country, poisoning is not the leading cause of preventable death:
- Motor vehicle accidents – 1,556 deaths
- Poisoning – 1,466 deaths
- Falls – 720
As you can see, poisoning is a very close second. However, the risk of dying in a motor vehicle accident or a fall is unfortunately very real in the state of Georgia. Perhaps that is why Georgia had the 4th highest rate of fatal car accidents in 2017. When it comes to falls, however, Georgia ranks slightly under the national average with falls accounting for only 14% of all fatal accidents.
While Georgia has suffered greatly as a result of the opioid epidemic, it’s important to remember that car accidents remain the leading cause of preventable deaths in the state of Georgia. Keep this in mind when behind the wheel –
- Drive defensively. Be prepared for sudden or unexpected actions from your fellow drivers.
- Avoid distractions. Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of car accidents. Stay off your phone and be mindful of other distractions – eating, your fellow passengers, or your kids.
- Obey the speed limit. Speeding actually causes more accidents than distracted driving. Speeding increases your stopping distance and reduces the time you have to avoid an accident.
Injured in a Car Accident? Contact the Georgia Car Accident Lawyers at Slappey & Sadd
We’ve been working with car accident victims across the state of Georgia since 1992. If you’ve been injured as a result of someone else’s negligence, we can help you get the compensation you need to put your life back together. To schedule a free consultation and learn about how we can help you, call us at 404-255-6677 or fill out our online contact form.