The unfortunate nature of accidents is that they are unpredictable and can strike at any time. For some residents of Wilmington, a fatal accident involving a loved one can change the course of their life forever. When accidents are a direct result of the irresponsibility of another, the outcome can be even more tragic as family members know the event was likely preventable. A wrongful death lawsuit may be fitting for these types of deadly incidents.
When asked what causes most fatal accidents, many people would likely answer “car accidents.” However, a new report sheds light on the surprising causes of many deadly accidents in the United States. According to information from the National Safety Council, the number of people who died accidentally in America during 2014 surpassed 136,000 – the highest figure ever recorded and one that is over four percent higher than the prior year. This staggering number of accidental deaths also proved over 15 percent larger than it was ten years ago.
Perhaps surprisingly, car crashes were not the biggest cause of accidental deaths in 2014. While over 35,000 individuals lost their lives in fatal auto wrecks that year, over 42,000 people died as the result of either an overdose or an accidental poisoning. The epidemic of heroin and opioid use has fueled this high rate of accidental poisoning death, which is four times as high as it was in 1998.
In addition to car accidents and accidental overdoses, more Americans are succumbing to fatal injuries caused by falls. This could be due to an aging population and the fact that nowadays, people are living longer than ever and as a result their bodies may be frail and in need of vigilant care which isn’t always provided.
An accident can be caused by many different factors – from the hidden dangers in a dangerous property condition to an inattentive driver to a negligent prescriber. In any event, the tragedy that results may have been prevented. While a wrongful death suit cannot bring back the loved one lost tragically lost in an accident, it could help hold a negligent party responsible for the losses and damages caused by the incident..
Source: Delaware Public Media, “More than ever, Americans are dying by accident,” David Schaper, June 11, 2016
