Causes of Unintentional Death
I’m Ed Smith, a Personal Injury Lawyer in Sacramento. Accidents are a part of society, and unfortunately, they occur on a daily basis. Like the injuries themselves, accidents can vary widely in their severity. While some people may sustain only minor injuries, others could be fatal. These fatalities can leave families with permanent scars as they struggle to understand what has happened. Recently, a research study was performed that looked at numerous factors that might lead to unintentional death.
The Centers for Disease and Control Prevention (CDC) published statistics discussing some of the leading causes of unintentional death in the United States. Remarkably, these were similar to the leading causes of a traumatic brain injury. This demonstrates that a traumatic brain injury can easily be fatal. The leading causes of unintentional death in 2014 are:
- Deaths related to falls: Over 30,000 people died as a result of falls in 2014. This equates to a rate of about 10 people per 100,000.
- Deaths Related to Motor Vehicles: About 37,000 people were killed in auto accidents, equating to a rate of 11 people per 100,000.
- Substance Use: Categorized as poisoning, almost 50,000 people died due to poisoning in 2014. This equates to around 15 people per 100,000.
Factors Considered in an Unintentional Death
A recent research article explored many factors that play a role in an unintentional death. Some elements include:
Impaired Cognitive Function: In many cases of accidental death, the individual is a child or an elderly person. At these ages, the cognitive functioning of the individual is often impaired. This makes it easier for an unintentional death to occur.
Risk-Taking Behavior: Risk-taking behavior has also been seen as the leading cause of traumatic injuries and unintentional death. Teenagers and young adults often fall prey to an adrenaline rush and poor decision-making.
Substance Use: Along with risk-taking behavior, substance use is on the rise. The opioid epidemic has become a pressing issue in modern society, and many cities are struggling with how to cope with drug abuse.
Lack of Safety Measures: A lack of safety measures or regulatory oversight has led to an increased death rate throughout multiple industries. Lack of proper safety equipment, vehicle maintenance, and adequate training can increase the chances of an accident occurring.
A Lawyer Can Help
When a family is processing the unexpected death of a loved one, grief is a reasonable and expected reaction. Wrongful death is painful to handle, and the additional issues surrounding the passing of a loved one can add stress to an already stressful situation. Some of the problems that a family may have to deal with include:
- A potential autopsy report
- Review of medical records
- Assistance with an accident investigation
- Mounting final expenses
- Division of assets and honoring of the will
- Coverage of medical costs related to the accident
- Potential paperwork on court filings
It is easy to understand how a family’s state of mind may make it difficult to handle all of these issues. When this happens, speaking with a personal injury lawyer in Sacramento can help put minds at ease. An attorney has the experience necessary to efficiently and accurately handle these issues for a grieving family.
Related Articles
Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyers
I’m Ed Smith, a Personal Injury Lawyer in Sacramento. If someone you love has passed away as a result of an accident, please call me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly legal advice.
I am honored to be a trial lawyer in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
I invite everyone to see our verdicts or settlements here.
Please take a few seconds to visit Avvo, Yelp & Google to see some of our client reviews.
Photo Attribution: The photo at the top of this page was seen first on Unsplash. The picture has been reproduced here with permission
:dr cha [cs 671] cv