What Are the Leading Causes of Injury in the US?

Ever wonder what the leading causes of injury are in the United States? In any given year, nearly a quarter-million Americans die from injury, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Some injuries are minor, whereas others are more severe. Regardless, injuries are a common occurrence. To shed some light on this topic, the CDC has published a list of the most common causes of injury in the United States.

Poisoning

According to the CDC's data, poisoning is the most common type of fatal injury in the United States. In 2017, over 38,000 Americans died as a result of poisoning. Based on these numbers, nearly two in five fatal injuries are attributed to poisoning.

Vehicle Accidents

Not surprisingly, vehicle accidents rank as one of the leading causes of injury in the United States. The CDC found that about 22 percent of all fatal injuries are attributed to vehicle accidents, making it the second-most common cause of fatal injury in the United States. Vehicle accidents involve collisions with cars, trucks, SUVs, motorcycles and other types of automobiles.

Falls

Of course, falls are a common cause of injury in the United States. Research shows that 20 percent of all emergency room visits are attributed to falls. Fall-related injuries are often classified as either same level or elevated level, depending on where they occur. If you fall on a flat and even surface, it's considered a same-level fall. If you fall from an elevated surface, such as a ladder or roof, it's considered an elevated-level fall. The former is more common, but the latter type of fall poses the greatest risk of serious injury.

Suffocation

Regarding fatal injuries, suffocation is another common cause of injury. The CDC's report found that over 3,700 died as a result of suffocation in 2017.

Overexterion

You might be surprised to learn that overexterion is a leading cause of injury. When someone pushes themselves beyond their body's physical limits, they may sustain an overexterion-related injury This includes carpal tunnel syndrome, pulled muscles, sprains and neck/back injuries.

Burns

According to the American Burn Association, approximately 1.1 million Americans sustain a burn injury that requires professional medical treatment each year in the United States. Of those 1.1 million injuries, burns are responsible for about 4,500 deaths.