When performing everyday tasks, we don't often think of the odds of dying due to various injuries but each year people die from tragic accidents and injuries that occur during normal everyday living. Because the odds of death of various injuries is a common question, statistics have been compiled and research has been done to obtain this information. According to the National Safety Council, in 2005 the odds of death due to injury were 1 in 1,681. While many of the following accidents and injuries are not all that common it is important to take necessary safety precautions when performing everyday tasks in order to ensure your health and safety and the health and safety of those around you. If you or someone you know has ever suffered one of the following injuries, it might be a good idea to speak to an accident attorney.
Type of Accident/Injury Approx. Number of Deaths Per Year Approx. Odds of Death for One Year
Pedestrian 6000 1 in 48,000
Car Occupant 14500 1 in 20,000
Bus Occupant 50 1 in 5,000,000
Falls 19600 1 in 15,000
Contact with Machinery 750 1 in 390,000
Firearms Discharge 780 1 in 375,000
Fireworks Discharge 4 1 in 74,000,000
Dog Bite 30 1 in 8,985,000
Drowning (Swimming Pool) 600 1 in 480,000
Drowning (Natural Water) 1600 1 in 180,000
Exposure to Smoke/Fire 3000 1 in 92,500
Contact with Venomous Animals/Plants 105 1 in 2,800,000
Alcohol 345 1 in 850,000
Firearm Assault 12000 1 in 24,000
Medical Care Complications 2500 1 in 110,000
Lightning 45 1 in 6,150,000
Air/Space Transport 590 1 in 500,000
Water Transport 520 1 in 550,000
Motorcycle Rider 4000 1 in 67,500
Odds of Dying – information from the National Safety Council on the odds of dying due to certain injuries (most recent data is from 2005) Injury Related Infant Deaths – information on the impact of race and birth weight on injury related infant deaths Personal Injury Attorney – information and resources on personal injury attorneys Probability of Death – information from the New England Journal of Medicine on the probability of death from various burn injuries Injury Control – the Injury Control Research Center and West Virginia University The Odds of Death – an article on the odds of dying from an accidental injury as well as a major catastrophe