Here are the top 10 personal injury statistics in the United States:
1. Every year, 3 million older individuals receive medical treatment in emergency departments for fall injuries.
2. In 2021, there were over 5.4 million car crash injuries nationwide and nearly 46,980 fatalities in the United States.
3. Based on data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), there are over 4.5 million reported dog bites in the United States each year, resulting in more than 800,000 people seeking medical attention.
4. In 2019, there were an estimated 821,182 reported cases of aggravated assaults in the United States.
5. Private industry employers reported 2.6 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in 2021.
6. It is estimated that approximately 2.8 million people suffer a traumatic brain injury in the United States annually.
7. The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center reports that there are over 17,700 Americans who experience a spinal cord injury annually.
8. Annually, more than 2.5 million individuals in the United States experience burn injuries.
9. Each year, there is a significant impact on American patients due to medical errors, affecting over 7 million individuals.
10. In 2021, 11.7 million people were treated in emergency departments for injuries resulting from consumer products.
Annually, 3 million older individuals seek medical treatment in emergency departments for fall injuries.
Every year, more than 3 million older adults are treated in emergency departments for fall-related injuries. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), falls are the leading cause of injury among adults aged 65 and over. In addition, falls are the leading cause of death from injury for seniors in this age group.
Accidental injuries resulting from slip-and-fall accidents can have severe consequences, such as fractures, traumatic head injuries, and hip fractures.
These are among the most common injuries associated with slip-and-fall accidents, highlighting the importance of taking preventative measures to ensure safe environments and reduce the risk of such incidents.
Each year, over 800,000 patients require hospitalization due to fall injuries, with head injuries or hip fractures being the most common.
Every year, a minimum of 300,000 elderly individuals are admitted to the hospital due to hip fractures. Falls are a significant contributor to traumatic brain injuries (TBI). [1]
According to data from 2021, there were approximately 5.4 million car crash injuries and almost 46,980 fatalities reported in the United States.
Every year, a significant number of individuals are harmed or lose their lives in personal injury accidents. Based on data from the National Safety Council, there were approximately 5.4 million car crash injuries across the country in 2021, leading to nearly 46,980 fatalities in the United States. Total motor-vehicle injury costs were estimated at $498.3 billion. [2]
Auto accidents can pose significant risks, especially when they happen at high speeds, frequently leading to injuries like whiplash, back pain, head trauma, or broken bones. These types of injuries are commonly associated with careless drivers who fail to exercise caution on the road.
Over 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year, with more than 800,000 seeking medical attention for dog bites.
Dog-related injuries, particularly bite injuries, are a significant concern in America. Each year, millions of people experience dog bites, with approximately 4.5 million cases reported.
These incidents not only cause physical harm but also lead to emotional trauma for many bite victims. Liability claims related to dog bites are also prevalent, with thousands of cases filed annually.
It is essential to raise awareness about responsible pet ownership and promote education on dog behavior to prevent these unfortunate incidents and ensure the safety of both humans and animals.
Dog bites are one of the most common sources of personal injury in the country. The CDC also states that 1 out of every 5 bitten by a dog will require medical assistance.
Children are more frequently affected by dog bites and are at a higher risk of sustaining severe injuries.
Children aged 5-9 have the highest risk of being bitten by a dog, while men are more likely to be bitten than women. [3]
In 2019, there were approximately 821,182 reported cases of aggravated assaults in the United States.
Personal injury statistics in the United States can be quite alarming. In 2019, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Uniform Crime Report, there were an estimated 821,182 reported aggravated assaults in the United States. This is an increase of 1.3% from 2018 and a considerable uptick from previous years.
According to law enforcement’s expansive data, 27.6 percent of aggravated assault offenses in 2019 were committed with firearms. In 25.2 percent of aggravated assaults, personal weapons such as hands, fists, or feet were used, while knives or cutting instruments were used in 17.5 percent. Weapons other than firearms were used in 29.8 percent of aggravated assaults. [4]
In 2021, private industry employers reported 2.6 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses.
The 2021 Injury and Illness Statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show that private industry employers reported 2.6 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in 2021, a slight decrease from the 2.8 million cases reported in 2020.
In 2021, there were 1,062,700 nonfatal injuries and illnesses that resulted in private industry workers missing at least one day of work, which was 9.7 percent lower than in 2020. The rate of cases resulting in a worker missing at least one day of work decreased in 2021, from 1.2 cases per 100 FTE workers in 2020 to 1.1 cases in 2021. [5]
An estimated 2.8 million people experience a traumatic brain injury in the United States each year.
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are one of the most serious and life-altering injuries a person can experience. They can result from any kind of impact to the head—from car accidents to falls, sports injuries, or assaults. Each year, an estimated 2.8 million people in the United States experience a traumatic brain injury.
In the United States, there are over 5.3 million individuals living with a permanent brain injury-related disability. The ratio is one person out of every 60. [6]
According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, more than 17,700 Americans suffer a spinal cord injury each year.
Spinal cord injuries can have serious and long-lasting consequences, including paralysis, loss of sensation, and difficulty with everyday activities such as walking and breathing. Every year, approximately 17,700 people in the United States experience a spinal cord injury, according to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center. The majority of these injuries occur as a result of motor vehicle accidents or falls.
Approximately 78% of the population consists of men, with an average age of 43. The majority of spinal cord injuries occur due to vehicle accidents (39.3%), followed by falls (31.8%), violence (13.2%), sports (8%), and medical/surgery (4.3%). [7]
Every year, over 2.5 million individuals in the United States sustain burn injuries.
Burn injuries are a particularly serious type of personal injury, and unfortunately, they are far too common. Every year in the United States, over 2.5 million individuals sustain burn injuries requiring medical treatment. Most of these injuries occur at home or work, and many involve children under the age of four.
Around 1 million of these incidents involve children, with 60% occurring in the home. Burn injuries not only pose a risk to life but also have a significant impact in terms of loss of lives and working years, especially considering that burns predominantly affect the young population. [8]
Yearly, many patients experience medical errors, resulting in injury and affecting more than 7 million individuals.
Medical errors are a major cause of injury and death in the United States, affecting more than 7 million Americans each year.
The vast majority of medical malpractice cases occur in hospitals and nursing homes, where patient safety can be compromised due to negligence and inadequate staffing.
Although medical errors can happen in any healthcare setting, the frequency and severity of these incidents tend to be higher during hospital visits or stays, underscoring the importance of robust safety protocols and diligent care in these environments.
The following statistics illustrate the magnitude of the problem:
Each year, medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the United States, behind only heart disease and cancer.
Around 530,000 injury incidents occur annually in outpatient clinics as a result of medication errors. The United States allocates a budget of over $40 billion annually for patients affected by medical errors.
According to statistics, 41% of US citizens have reported experiencing a medical error. On average, 10% of patients in hospitals experience medication errors. [9]
During 2021, injuries caused by consumer products led to 11.7 million people seeking medical treatment in emergency departments.
In 2021, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reported that 11.7 million individuals received medical treatment in emergency departments due to injuries caused by consumer products.
This statistic is part of a larger set of personal injury statistics that show the frequency and severity of injuries resulting from consumer products. The majority of these injuries were related to home equipment such as furniture, tools, sports equipment, and toys.
In 2021, the “home, structures, and construction” category recorded the highest number of injuries, with a total of 3,788,883 cases. Within this category, stairs, ramps, landings, and floors accounted for 72% of the injuries, totaling 2,727,810.
The highest injury rates involving stairs, ramps, landings, and floors were observed in adults 65 or older as well as children younger than 5. The majority of these injuries occur in females (60%), and most of them are treated in the emergency department and released (76%). [10]
If you or a loved one has been injured in any kind of unintentional injuries & need an experienced personal injury lawyer, please contact us by calling 1-888-522-0335 or by filling out the form for a free consultation. You may be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries.
Sources:
[1] About Older Adult Fall Prevention. (2024, January 17). Older Adult Fall Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/falls/about/index.html#:~:text=Falls%20among%20adults%2065%20and,injury%20death%20for%20that%20group.&text=In%202021%2C%20emergency%20departments%20recorded,visits%20for%20older%20adult%20falls.
[2] 2021 Motor-vehicle Crash Highlights. (n.d.). National Safety Council. Retrieved 2022, from https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/motor-vehicle/overview/introduction
[3] Dog bite prevention. (n.d.). American Veterinary Medical Association. https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/dog-bite-prevention
[4] Aggravated Assault. (n.d.). FBI. https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2019/crime-in-the-u.s.-2019/topic-pages/aggravated-assault
[5] Bureau of Labor Statistics. (n.d.). bls.gov. Retrieved November 9, 2022, from https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/osh.pdf
[6] Brain Injury Awareness Month – Brain Injury Association of America. (2023, March 27). Brain Injury Association of America. https://www.biausa.org/public-affairs/public-awareness/brain-injury-awareness#:~:text=There%20are%20more%20than%205.3,the%20United%20States%20every%20year.
[7] Scott, T. (2023, April 5). Spinal Cord Injury Facts and Stats. United Spinal Association. https://unitedspinal.org/spinal-cord-injury-facts-and-stats
[8] Dogra, B. (2004, July 1). Initial Management of Burns. Medical Journal, Armed Forces India; Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0377-1237(04)80062-5
[9] Team, S., Team, S., & S. (2023, February 4). Medication errors statistics 2023. The Checkup. https://www.singlecare.com/blog/news/medication-errors-statistics/#:~:text=One%20in%205%20Americans%20has,error%20(DataRay%2C%202002)
[10] Consumer Product Injuries. (n.d.). https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/. Retrieved January 2022, from https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/home-and-community/safety-topics/consumer-product-injuries/data-details
