If you stopped to think about it, you might guess that most injury-involved accidents occur on the road. However, data from the National Safety Council (NSC) indicate that this is not the case. In fact, according to the NSC’s data, auto accidents are the third-leading cause of injuries, following accidents at home and accidents in public spaces.
Accidents at Home
According to the NSC, 53.6 percent of all injury-involved accidents occur at home. This includes accidents inside and outside, but only within real estate property lines. Accidents occurring on public sidewalks and in neighborhood parks and swimming pools are categorized separately as accidents in “public spaces,” and we’ll get to these next. Some of the most common causes of injuries at home include accidents involving:
- Construction defects (such as wiring faults and loose stair treads)
- Cleaning solvents and other poisonous and flammable products
- Large appliances, small appliances, power tools and hand tools
- Toys, playsets, sporting equipment and electronics
Accidents in Public Spaces
Accidents in public spaces account for 27.5 percent of all injuries requiring medical attention, according to the NSC. This includes accidents at locations such as:
- Playgrounds
- Swimming pools
- Community parks
- State, county and national parks
- Ponds, lakes and rivers
- Businesses and government buildings
Accidents on Denver Roads
According to the NSC, non-work-related auto accidents account for just 9.3 percent of hospitalizations and doctor’s visits for diagnosis and treatment of traumatic injuries. However, they account for nearly a quarter (22.5 percent) of traumatic fatalities. Some of the leading causes of auto accidents include:
- Driving while texting, talking on the phone or using social media
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Following too closely and weaving through traffic
- Merging and lane-change errors (including failure to yield)
- Speeding and reckless driving
- Running red lights and stop signs
Accidents at Work
Work-related accidents account for 9.1 percent of injuries (or 9.5 percent including vehicle collisions). According to the NSC, the occupations with the highest incident rates for injurious and fatal accidents are:
- Construction
- Transportation and warehousing
- Agriculture
- Professional and business services
- Government
- Manufacturing
- Leisure and hospitality
- Retail trade
- Wholesale trade
What Should You Do if You Have Been Injured?
If you have been injured in an accident, what do these statistics mean for you (and, more specifically, your claim for financial compensation)? As you can see, many types of accidents can lead to serious injuries; and, in many cases, these accidents result from factors beyond the victim’s control. If you have been injured at home, in a public space, on the road or at work, you owe it to yourself to find out if you have a claim for compensation, and you should speak with an attorney as soon as possible.
Speak With a Denver Personal Injury Attorney Now
To learn more about your legal rights after an accident at home, in a public space, on the road or on the job, you can contact our Denver, CO offices for a free and confidential consultation. Call 303-333-8000 to request an appointment 24/7, or submit your case online and a member of the firm will be in touch with you shortly.
