Accidents & Injuries
Odds of accidental death and injury from motor vehicles, falls, drowning, poisoning, and other unintentional causes.
71 probabilities in this category
Annual Alcohol-Impaired Traffic Death Risk (2023)
NHTSA 2023 traffic data estimates 3.71 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 26,946) for annual alcohol-impaired traffic death risk.
Annual Motorcyclist Traffic Death Risk (2023)
NHTSA 2023 traffic data estimates 1.89 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 52,867) for annual motorcyclist traffic death risk.
Annual Passenger Vehicle Occupant Death Risk (2023)
NHTSA 2023 traffic data estimates 7.15 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 13,979) for annual passenger vehicle occupant death risk.
Annual Pedalcyclist Traffic Death Risk (2023)
NHTSA 2023 traffic data estimates 0.35 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 287,234) for annual pedalcyclist traffic death risk.
Annual Pedestrian Traffic Death Risk (2023)
NHTSA 2023 traffic data estimates 2.18 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 45,791) for annual pedestrian traffic death risk.
Annual Probability of Being Involved in a Road Rage Incident
About 80% of drivers report experiencing significant anger behind the wheel annually. About 8% engage in aggressive driving that could constitute road rage.
Annual Probability of Death from Sports/Recreation
About 8,000 Americans die each year from sports and recreational activities, with drowning and cycling being the deadliest.
Annual Probability of Distracted Walking Injury
About 2,500 pedestrians are injured each year from distracted walking (using phones), with ER visits for phone-related pedestrian injuries tripling since 2010.
Annual Probability of Dying in a House Fire
About 2,840 Americans die in home fires each year. Cooking is the leading cause, and lack of smoke alarms is the deadliest factor.
Annual Probability of Electrical Shock Injury at Home
About 30,000 non-fatal electrical shock incidents occur in the US each year, with about 400 electrocution deaths.
Annual Probability of Elevator or Escalator Injury
About 17,000 injuries and 30 deaths from elevators and escalators occur in the US each year.
Annual Probability of Getting a Flat Tire
About 220 million flat tires occur annually in the US (roughly 7% of drivers per year). Road debris and potholes are leading causes.
Annual Probability of Glass-Related Injury
About 900,000 Americans suffer glass-related injuries each year, including cuts from broken drinking glasses, windows, and doors.
Annual Probability of USPS Carrier Dog Attack
About 5,300 postal workers are attacked by dogs each year, making dog attacks a top safety concern for mail carriers.
Annual Probability of Venomous Snake Bite in the US
About 7,000-8,000 venomous snake bites occur in the US each year, causing about 5 deaths. Most bites are from rattlesnakes.
Annual Probability of Your Car Being Totaled
About 1% of insured vehicles are declared a total loss each year due to accidents, theft, or natural disasters.
Annual Probability of a Black Ice-Related Accident
About 116,000 injuries and 1,300 deaths per year are attributed to icy road conditions, with black ice being particularly dangerous.
Annual Probability of a Car-Deer Collision
About 1 in 143 drivers is involved in a car-deer collision each year, with about 1.5 million such collisions annually.
Annual Probability of a Child Choking on a Hot Dog
Hot dogs are the leading cause of food-related choking deaths in children under 14, causing about 17% of choking fatalities.
Annual Probability of a Drone-Related Incident
About 2,500 drone incidents and close encounters are reported to the FAA each year, with injuries still relatively rare.
Annual Probability of a Home Natural Gas Leak
About 2% of homes with natural gas service experience a detectable gas leak each year. Gas leaks cause about 17 deaths and 286 injuries annually.
Annual Probability of a Parking Lot Accident
About 3% of drivers are involved in a parking lot accident each year. Parking lots account for about 20% of all car accidents.
Annual Probability of a Pet-Related ER Visit
About 86,000 Americans visit the ER each year due to pet-related injuries, most commonly from tripping over or being pulled by dogs.
Annual Probability of a Tree Falling on Your House
About 1 in 500 homes experience damage from a falling tree or large branch each year, often during storms.
Annual Speeding-Related Traffic Death Risk (2023)
NHTSA 2023 traffic data estimates 3.52 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 28,443) for annual speeding-related traffic death risk.
Annual Traffic Death Risk for Adults 65+ (2023)
NHTSA 2023 traffic data estimates 13.32 per 100,000 adults 65+ (about 1 in 7,508) for annual traffic death risk for adults 65+.
Annual U.S. Death Risk from All Injury Deaths (2023)
In 2023, NCHS reported an age-adjusted U.S. death rate from injury deaths of 85.3 per 100,000 (about 1 in 1,172).
Annual U.S. Death Risk from Motor Vehicle Traffic (2023)
In 2023, NCHS reported an age-adjusted U.S. death rate from motor vehicle traffic injury of 12.5 per 100,000 (about 1 in 8,000).
Annual U.S. Death Risk from Unintentional Drug Overdose (2023)
In 2023, NCHS reported an age-adjusted U.S. death rate from unintentional drug overdose of 29.0 per 100,000 (about 1 in 3,448).
Annual U.S. Death Risk from Unintentional Falls (2023)
In 2023, NCHS reported an age-adjusted U.S. death rate from unintentional falls of 11.4 per 100,000 (about 1 in 8,772).
Annual U.S. Death Risk from Unintentional Injuries (2024)
In 2024, NCHS reported an age-adjusted U.S. death rate from unintentional injuries of 53.3 per 100,000 (about 1 in 1,876).
Annual U.S. Death Risk from Unintentional Injury (2023)
In 2023, NCHS reported an age-adjusted U.S. death rate from unintentional injury of 62.3 per 100,000 (about 1 in 1,605).
Annual U.S. Traffic Death Risk (2023)
NHTSA 2023 traffic data estimates 12.21 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 8,188) for annual u.s. traffic death risk.
Annual U.S. Traffic Injury Risk (2023)
NHTSA 2023 traffic data estimates 729 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 137) for annual u.s. traffic injury risk.
Chance a Killed Passenger Vehicle Occupant Was Unrestrained (2023)
NHTSA 2023 traffic data estimates 49% when restraint use was known for chance a killed passenger vehicle occupant was unrestrained.
Chance a Motorcycle Rider in a Fatal Crash Was Alcohol-Impaired (2023)
NHTSA 2023 traffic data reports 26% of motorcycle riders in fatal crashes for chance a motorcycle rider in a fatal crash was alcohol-impaired.
Chance a Motorcycle Rider in a Fatal Crash Was Speeding (2023)
NHTSA 2023 traffic data reports 36% of motorcycle riders in fatal crashes for chance a motorcycle rider in a fatal crash was speeding.
Chance a Traffic Fatality Occurred in an Urban Area (2023)
NHTSA 2023 traffic data reports 58% of traffic fatalities for chance a traffic fatality occurred in an urban area.
Chance a Traffic Fatality Was a Large-Truck, Bus, or Other Occupant (2023)
NHTSA 2023 traffic data reports 4% of traffic fatalities for chance a traffic fatality was a large-truck, bus, or other occupant.
Chance a Young Male Driver in a Fatal Crash Was Speeding (2023)
NHTSA 2023 traffic data estimates 37% of male drivers ages 15-20 in fatal crashes for chance a young male driver in a fatal crash was speeding.
Chance an Alcohol-Impaired Traffic Fatality Involved BAC 0.15+ (2023)
NHTSA 2023 traffic data estimates 67% of alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities for chance an alcohol-impaired traffic fatality involved bac 0.15+.
Infant Death Risk from Unintentional Injuries (2024)
In 2024, NCHS reported an infant mortality rate from unintentional injuries of 34.3 per 100,000 live births (about 1 in 2,915).
Motorcyclist Fatality Rate per Mile (2023)
NHTSA 2023 traffic data estimates 31.39 deaths per 100 million VMT (about 1 per 3.19 million miles) for motorcyclist fatality rate per mile.
Probability of Crash While Texting and Driving
Texting while driving makes a crash 23 times more likely. About 9% of fatal crashes involve a distracted driver.
Probability of Death When Not Wearing a Seatbelt in a Crash
About 45% of people killed in car crashes were not wearing seatbelts, despite seatbelt use being at 91.6% nationally.
Probability of Dying as a Pedestrian in a Vehicle Crash
The lifetime odds of dying as a pedestrian struck by a vehicle are about 1 in 161. Pedestrian deaths have been rising.
Probability of Dying from Accidental Gun Discharge
The lifetime odds of dying from an unintentional firearms discharge are about 1 in 8,527 in the US.
Probability of Dying from Choking on Food
The lifetime odds of dying from choking on food are approximately 1 in 2,960, with children and elderly at highest risk.
Probability of Dying from Drowning
The lifetime odds of dying from drowning are about 1 in 1,006. Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1-4.
Probability of Dying from Electrocution
The lifetime odds of dying from electrocution are approximately 1 in 12,200, with construction and electrical workers facing the highest risk.
Probability of Dying from a Bee or Wasp Sting
The lifetime odds of dying from a bee, wasp, or hornet sting are about 1 in 53,989, primarily from severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis).
Probability of Dying from a Dog Bite or Attack
The lifetime odds of dying from a dog bite or attack are about 1 in 69,016. About 4.5 million dog bites occur annually in the US.
Probability of Dying from a Fall
Falls are the third leading cause of unintentional injury death with lifetime odds of about 1 in 84, primarily affecting older adults.
Probability of Dying in a Car Crash
The lifetime odds of dying in a motor vehicle crash are about 1 in 93 in the United States.
Probability of Dying in a Fire or from Smoke Inhalation
The lifetime odds of dying in a fire or from smoke inhalation are about 1 in 788. Working smoke alarms cut fire death risk in half.
Probability of Dying in a Highway Crash vs. Local Roads
About 55% of traffic fatalities occur on rural roads despite carrying less traffic, while urban interstates are the safest roads per mile.
Probability of Dying in a Motorcycle Crash
The lifetime odds of dying in a motorcycle crash are about 1 in 110, making motorcyclists 29 times more likely to die per mile than car occupants.
Probability of Experiencing a Home Fire
About 1 in 250 US homes has a reported fire each year, with cooking being the leading cause of home fires.
Probability of Fatal Crash Occurring at Night
About 49% of fatal traffic crashes occur at night, despite only 25% of driving occurring during dark hours.
Probability of Injury from an Exotic Pet
Exotic pets (reptiles, primates, large cats) cause thousands of injuries per year in the US, with reptile bites leading the count.
Probability of Runner's Knee Among Runners
About 25% of recreational runners develop patellofemoral pain syndrome (runner's knee) each year.
Probability of Tearing Your ACL
About 200,000-250,000 ACL injuries occur annually in the US, giving roughly a 1 in 1,470 annual risk for the general population.
Probability of a Car Crash in Snow or Ice
Snow and icy pavement contribute to about 17% of all weather-related vehicle crashes, causing roughly 900 deaths annually.
Probability of a Choking Emergency on Food
About 5,300 people die from choking each year in the US, with food being the most common cause. Hot dogs, grapes, and nuts are top risks for children.
Probability of a Crash at an Intersection
About 40% of all traffic crashes and 21% of traffic fatalities occur at or near intersections.
Probability of a Fatal Car Crash in Rain
Wet pavement contributes to about 70% of weather-related crashes and 34% of weather-related fatalities in the US annually.
Probability of a Ladder Fall Injury
About 500,000 ladder fall injuries occur annually in the US, with about 300 deaths, making ladders the most common cause of fall-from-height injuries.
Probability of a Sports-Related Concussion
There are an estimated 1.6-3.8 million sports-related concussions per year in the US, with football, soccer, and hockey at highest risk.
Probability of an Electric Vehicle Catching Fire
About 25 per 100,000 electric vehicles experience a fire, compared to about 1,530 per 100,000 for gasoline cars. EVs are significantly less fire-prone.
Traffic Death Risk per Vehicle Mile (2023)
NHTSA 2023 traffic data estimates 1.26 deaths per 100 million VMT (about 1 per 79.4 million miles) for traffic death risk per vehicle mile.
Traffic Injury Risk per Vehicle Mile (2023)
NHTSA 2023 traffic data estimates 75 injuries per 100 million VMT (about 1 per 1.33 million miles) for traffic injury risk per vehicle mile.