Accidents are the leading cause of death for those under 40. Knowing the most common sources of risk, and what to do if a loved one becomes a victim, can be a lifesaver.
The Top Ten
There are thousands of ways to classify a death: city officials categorize accidental deaths in Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island using approximately 6,000 codes. Given the wide array of options in defining accidental death, an exhaustive list of the top contributors is a slippery concept. But, while lists may vary, there is a general hierarchy to sources of unintended tragedy.
Unsurprisingly, motor vehicle accidents are the number one source of accidental deaths. Those 19-30 years old are most likely to be killed in traffic accidents, although they impact every age group: in February, an 11-year-old boy was killed in the Bronx when a motorist struck him crossing the street on his way to pick up a carton of milk.
There are many more exotic ways to fall victim to negligence. Following traffic accidents in order of number of annual deaths are falls, poisoning (by solids and liquids), drowning, and fire-related burn injuries. Again, certain age groups are more susceptible to some accidents (drowning, for example, is more common among those under 18, whereas middle-aged and older adults are at far more risk for falls).
As with traffic accidents, however, there are often outliers beyond the most at-risk age groups: Brooklyn college student Michael Simmons died last fall after falling from his dorm room window, and at 19 certainly failed to qualify as middle-aged. Rounding out the list are suffocation, accidental firearm discharges, poisoning (this time from gaseous toxins), medical malpractice, and machinery.
Legal Options
Some sources of accidental death can be relatively easy to prevent (i.e., lock up your guns when children are around). Others are more difficult to foresee (how do you identify a careless surgeon?). Fortunately, New York has a system in place to ensure responsible parties can be held accountable. For deaths caused by the misconduct of another, New York has a wrongful death statute allowing survivors to sue for the damages the deceased would have been able to seek if he or she would have lived. That means additional compensation for families in wrongful death lawsuits. If you have lost a loved one in an accident, contact an experienced attorney.
![[picture of] Daniel A. Kalish](/design/images/attorneyPic.jpg)
