The Likelihood of Accidental Death Associated with Specific Causes

Frequently Asked Questions about Social Security Disability Benefits

Aronberg, Kouser, Snyder & Lindemann, P. A.—Experienced SSDI Attorneys in Pennsylvania and New Jersey

According to a recent study, the odds of dying as a result of an accident or injury far exceed most other causes. Though a person is nearly four times as likely to die of heart disease than as the result of an accident, far more fatalities result from mishaps than from firearms, fire, falls or exposure to weather.

The leading cause of accidental death is motor vehicle accidents, with an estimated 42,000 traffic fatalities every year, including pedestrian fatalities (approximately 5,000 every year). The most common causes of motor vehicle fatalities are distracted driving (texting, applying makeup, eating or talking on a cell phone), drunk driving (about one third of all traffic fatalities involve alcohol), and violation of traffic laws. Automobile accidents are the leading cause of death among 15-20 year olds.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that more than 39,000 people die annually from poisoning, though most of those deaths are from drug overdoses (more than 90 percent). The largest percentage of drug-related deaths are among individuals between the ages of 25 and 44. The drugs most likely to cause death—heroin, cocaine and prescription opioids, such as methadone, Oxycontin and hydrocodone.

The third leading cause of accidental death—slips and falls, accounting for about 25,000 fatalities every year. Most of the slips and falls that lead to death are around the home, and the vast majority involve individuals over the age of 65. While falls and playground accidents are the leading cause of injury to children, they are seldom fatal.

Some significant causes of accidental death that may not be so apparent include:

• Death from fires—2,700 annually, including fatalities from burns and smoke inhalation
• Death from choking—2,500 per year, from a wide range of substances, such as hot dogs, balloons, peanut butter, small toys, marshmallows and pieces of meat
• Drowning—2,000 per year, in pools, bathtubs, fountains and fish ponds

Contact Aronberg, Kouser, Snyder & Lindemann, P. A., Attorneys at Law

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