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Injury Facts You Should Know

The National Safety Council recently released the 2014 edition of Injury Facts®, which details safety statistics and trends across the U.S. and worldwide. Injury Facts has been the Council’s go-to resource for all safety statistics for more than 90 years.

Among the more surprising statistics in the 2014 edition:

1. Poisonings, including those from unintentional opioid prescription painkiller overdoses, were the leading cause of death in 18 states and Washington, D.C. The increase in fatalities corresponds with the national increase in deaths from drug poisonings, including those involving prescription painkillers.
2. Cell phone use is now estimated to be involved in 26 percent of all motor vehicle crashes – up from the previous year.
3. An estimated 5 percent of cell phone-related crashes involve texting, while 21 percent involve drivers talking on handheld or hands-free cell phones.
4. In 2012, the number of teen motor vehicle occupant deaths decreased, but motor vehicle crashes remain the No. 1 cause of death for teens.
5. Unintentional injuries cost more than $790 billion annually.
6. The most costly lost-time workers’ compensation claims are those involving injuries to the head or central nervous system.
7. The number of elder adult falls has risen 112 percent since 1999.
8. Motor vehicle deaths in 2012 were at their lowest level in February and at their highest in July.
9. The three-day period around New Year’s Day was the holiday period with the highest percentage of alcohol-impaired driving deaths.

If you or someone you care about has recently been injured due to someone else's negligence it would be beneficial to consult an experienced attorney in order to answer your questions and understand your legal options including getting advice about paying for your medical bills and other damages you or a loved one may have suffered. As always, my office is available at all times to answer your questions and provide a free telephone or in person consultation.

Attorney Joseph F. De Leo is a lawyer with over twenty eight years experience handling personal injury claims serving the entire greater Boston area. He can be reached at jdeleo@deleolaw.com or by visiting deleolaw.com
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Location: Cambridge, MA, USA

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