What Are the Top Three Factors That Cause Fatal Accidents?

Accidents happen. A moment of inattention, distraction or fatigue and the dog escapes, dinner boils over or you drop a plate on your toe. Most accidents are minor with no long term consequences. Some call for a trip to the emergency room. According to a 2009 Washington Post article, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that "an average of 86,629 Americans visit the emergency room each year" because they trip over their pets. Some accidents are fatal. Knowing the top three factors that can cause a fatal accident at home, in the car or at work may save your life.

In the Home

• The three leading factors that can causes a fatal accident in the home, according to the MSN website, are slippery showers, mixing medications and burns due to fires. Accidents in the home are the second leading cause of accidental death after car accidents in the United States. Slipping in the shower is the top factor that can lead to a fall in the home. Because shower surfaces are hard, falling in the shower can cause serious trauma to the head. Senior adults are especially susceptible to falls. The Injury Board website recommends installing grab bars in showers and tubs to help prevent falls.

  An accidental overdose by mixing prescription drugs with over-the-counter medication and /or alcohol is the next leading factor that leads to poisoning deaths in the home. Fire is the third factor leading to accidental deaths in the home. Because home fires kill over 3,000 people a year, the Home Safety Council (quoted on the MSN website) recommends having working smoke alarms and a fire escape plan.

In The Work Place

• According to the the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2009 report, transportation accidents, falls or being struck by an object are the leading causes of accidental deaths in the work place. The major factor in transportation accidents is transporting goods overland by highway as opposed to transporting goods by plane or train. The factor that causes falls to be fatal in the workplace differ that of falls in the home. Fatalities from workplace falls are often caused by falling from a height of being hit by an object.

While Driving A Car

• Motor vehicle accidents are top cause of fatal accidental deaths in 2005 in the United States, according to the Ben Best website. The top factor in causing a fatal car accident, according to the Arca Max Publishing website, is excessive speed; driving over the speed limit and/or driving to fast for road conditions. The second factor causing car accidents to be fatal is driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The third factor is not wearing a seat belt while in a moving vehicle. According to the Drive Alive website, not wearing a seat belt doubles the chances of the car's occupants being hurt in an accident.