Accidents are unintended events that occur without direct human causation. While the term accident implies that no one should be held responsible, these events often result from unrecognized or unaddressed risks. Researchers studying unintentional injuries prefer to focus on factors that increase the risk of severe injury and those that can reduce the incidence and severity of injuries. For instance, if a tree falls during a windstorm, the fall itself may not be caused by humans, but factors such as the tree’s type, size, health, location, or improper maintenance might have contributed to the outcome. It’s important to note that many car wrecks are not true accidents. However, the use of the term “accident” in the context of car crashes gained popularity in the mid-20th century due to media manipulation by the US automobile industry.
Accidents can be categorized into physical and non-physical types. Physical accidents include unintended motor vehicle collisions, falls, injuries from contact with sharp or hot objects, or collisions while walking. Non-physical accidents involve unintentionally revealing a secret, making verbal mistakes, accidental data deletion, or forgetting appointments.
Accidents can also be classified based on the activity involved. Work accidents occur during the execution of work or are related to it, and according to the International Labour Organization (ILO), they account for over 337 million incidents annually, resulting in more than 2.3 million deaths when combined with occupational diseases. Leisure-related accidents are predominantly sports injuries.
When it comes to vehicle collisions, they are typically not accidents but rather caused by preventable factors such as drunk driving or speeding. The use of the term “accident” to describe car wrecks was popularized by the US National Automobile Chamber of Commerce in the mid-20th century to portray vehicle-related deaths and injuries as unavoidable occurrences rather than addressable issues. This manipulation was achieved through customized articles provided to newspapers using industry-preferred language. Since 1994, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has discouraged the use of the word “accident” to describe vehicle collisions.
Common causes of fatal injuries include poisons, vehicle collisions, and falls. A survey conducted in 2005 on home injuries, utilizing data from the National Vital Statistics System of the United States National Center for Health Statistics, identified falls, poisoning, and fire/burn injuries as the leading causes of death.
In the United States, injury data is collected through various channels, including the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System administered by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which gathers statistically valid information from a sample of 100 hospitals. Additionally, the National Health Interview Survey collects data on emergency department visits. The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides extensive statistics on workplace accidents through its website.