Our kids are not alright. In fact, they’re now at an increased risk for sustaining a fatal accident. Between 1999 and 2013, the accidental death rate for children between the ages of 10 and 19 declined 49%. Safety experts believed that we were all on the right track for living longer and safer lives, and for keeping our kids out of harm’s way. But now, a new report looking at fatal accidents and the youth from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that between 2013 and 2016, accidental deaths were up a staggering 13%. These fatalities were mostly due to injury-related deaths, such as traffic accidents, drug overdoses, and suicides.
The report reviewed death certificates in all 50 states and the District of Columbia between 1999 and 2016. The data was analyzed to look closely at the age of the person who died and their reported cause of death. Unintentional injuries were the leading cause of death in those children and teenagers between 10 and 19 years of age. Motor vehicle accidents accounted for the majority of these deaths – a whopping 62%. Poisoning came in second, causing 16% of all accidental deaths, and drowning came in third, causing 7% of all accidental deaths. It is important to know that poisoning deaths do include drug overdoses.
Even more shocking is that suicide rates have increased. From 1999 to 2007, suicide rates dropped 15%. In 2016, however, the rate increased 56%! That year alone, the three leading methods of suicide were suffocation, firearms, and poisoning. Firearms accounted for 43% of all suicides.
Another study in JAMA found that accidental death rates were also increasing in teens and young adults between 15 and 34 years old. From 2012 to 2016 unintentional injuries including motor vehicle crashes, drug overdoses, poisoning, drowning, suicides, and homicides were all increasing.
Safety experts and health professionals believe that this should be a wake up call for all Americans and especially for parents of young children. Mental health services, injury prevention, gun safety and reform, and car and driver safety and education need our support and financial resources at this time.
Contact Our Experienced Arvada Personal Injury Lawyers
If you or someone you love has been injured in an accident in Arvada, Northglenn, Thornton, or anywhere in Northern Colorado, you need experienced legal counsel you can trust. At Hull & Zimmerman, P.C., our committed personal injury lawyers are dedicated to the belief that everyone deserves justice. Contact us at (303) 423-1770 or (866) 385-3505.
Our personal injury lawyers have extensive experience representing injured accident victims in Broomfield, Arvada, Superior, Lafayette, Louisville, Erie, Brighton, Commerce City, Northglenn, Westminster, Thornton, Longmont, and throughout Colorado.
