The odds of dying from... The National Safety Council has been compiling and reporting on injury data every year since the 1920s. The table below was prepared in response to frequent inquiries to the Council concerning the odds of dying from or being killed by a specific incident or occurrence such as a lightning strike or a plane crash. The odds given below are statistical averages over the whole U.S. population and do not necessarily reflect the chances of death for a particular person from a particular external cause. Any individual's odds of dying from various external causes are affected by the activities in which they participate, where they live and drive, what kind of work they do, and other factors. The table has four columns. The first column gives the manner of injury such as motor-vehicle crash, fall, fire, etc. The second column gives the total number of deaths nationwide due to the manner of injury in 2004 (the latest year for which data are available). The third column gives the odds of dying in one year due to the manner of injury. The fourth column gives the lifetime odds of dying from the manner of injury. Statements about the odds or chances of dying from a given cause of death may be made as follows: The odds of dying from (manner of injury) in 2004 were 1 in (value given in the one-year odds column).

The life-time odds of dying from (manner of injury) for a person born in 2004 were 1 in (value given in the lifetime odds column). For example, referring to the first line of the table below: The odds of dying from an injury in 2004 were 1 in 1,756.

The lifetime odds of dying from an injury for a person born in 2004 were 1 in 23. Source: National Safety Council estimates based on data from National Center for Health Statistics and U.S. Census Bureau. Deaths are classified on the basis of the Tenth Revision of the World Health Organization's "The International Classification of Diseases" (ICD). Numbers following titles refer to External Cause of Morbidity and Mortality classifications in ICD-10. One year odds are approximated by dividing the 2004 population (293,656,842) by the number of deaths. Lifetime odds are approximated by dividing the one-year odds by the life expectancy of a person born in 2004 (77.9 years).





Send an e-mail to rssdept@nsc.org with questions or for additional information. Odds of Death Due to Injury, United States, 2004

Type of Accident or Manner of Injury Deaths One Year Odds Lifetime Odds All External Causes of Mortality, V01-Y89, *U01, *U03 167,184 1,756 23 Deaths Due to Unintentional (Accidental) Injuries, V01-X59, Y85-Y86 112,012 2,622 34 Transport Accidents, V01-V99, Y85 47,385 6,197 80 Motor-Vehicle Accidents, V02-V04, V09.0, V12-V14, V19.0-V19.2, V19.4-V19.6, V20-V79, V80.3-V80.5, V81.0-V81.1, V82.0-V82.1, V83-V86, V87.0-V87.8, V88.0-V88.8, V89.0, V89.2 44,933 6,535 84 Pedestrian, V01-V09 5,976 49,139 631 Pedalcyclist, V10-V19 843 348,347 4,472 Motorcycle rider, V20-V29 4,018 73,085 938 Occupant of three-wheeled motor vehicle, V30-V39 13 22,588,988 289,974 Car occupant, V40-V49 15,282 19,216 247 Occupant of pick-up truck or van, V50-V59 3,908 75,142 965 Occupant of heavy transport vehicle, V60-V69 439 668,922 8,587 Bus occupant, V70-V79 40 7,341,421 94,242 Animal rider or occupant of animal-drawn vehicle, V80 91 3,226,998 41,425 Occupant of railway train or railway vehicle, V81 27 10,876,179 139,617 Occupant of streetcar, V82 1 293,656,842 3,769,664 Other and unspecified land transport accidents, V83-V89 15,494 18,953 243 Occupant of special industrial vehicle, V83 12 24,471,404 314,139 Occupant of special agricultural vehicle, V84 105 2,796,732 35,902 Occupant of special construction vehicle, V85 27 10,876,179 139,617 Occupant of all-terrain or other off-road motor vehicle, V86 951 308,787 3,964 Other and unspecified person, V87-V89 14,399 20,394 262 Water transport accidents, V90-V94 574 511,597 6,567 Drowning, V90, V92 421 697,522 8,954 Other and unspecified injuries, V91, V93-V94 153 1,919,326 24,648 Air and space transport accidents, V95-V97 679 432,484 5,552 Other and unspecified transport accidents and sequelae, V98-V99, Y85 668 439,606 5,643 Other specified transport accidents, V98 0 --- --- Unspecified transport accident, V99 0 --- --- Nontransport Unintentional (Accidental) Injuries, W00-X59, Y86 63,959 4,591 59 Falls, W00-W19 18,807 15,614 200 Fall on same level from slipping, tripping, and stumbling, W01 584 502,837 6,455 Other fall on same level, W00, W02-W03, W18 4,458 65,872 846 Fall involving bed, chair, other furniture, W06-W08 774 379,402 4,870 Fall on and from stairs and steps, W10 1,638 179,278 2,301 Fall on and from ladder or scaffolding, W11-W12 392 749,125 9,616 Fall from out of or through building or structure, W13 587 500,267 6,422 Other fall from one level to another, W09, W14-W17 724 405,603 5,207 Other and unspecified fall, W04-W05, W19 9,650 30,431 391 Exposure to inanimate mechanical forces, W20-W49 2,759 106,436 1,366 Struck by or striking against object, W20-W22 833 352,529 4,525 Caught between objects, W23 134 2,191,469 28,132 Contact with machinery, W24, W30-W31 795 369,380 4,742 Contact with sharp objects, W25-W29 106 2,770,348 35,563 Firearms discharge, W32-W34 649 452,476 5,808 Explosion and rupture of pressurized devices, W35-W38 28 10,487,744 134,631 Fireworks discharge, W39 2 146,828,421 1,884,832 Explosion of other materials, W40 148 1,984,168 25,471 Foreign body entering through skin or natural orifice, W44-W45 32 9,176,776 117,802 Other and unspecified inanimate mechanical forces, W41-W43, W49 32 9,176,776 117,802 Exposure to animate mechanical forces, W50-W64 139 2,112,639 27,120 Struck by or against another person, W50-W52 13 22,588,988 289,974 Bitten or struck by dog, W54 27 10,876,179 139,617 Bitten or struck by other mammals, W53, W55 77 3,813,725 48,957 Bitten or stung by nonvenomous insect and other arthropods, W57 5 58,731,368 753,933 Bitten or crushed by other reptiles, W59 0 --- --- Other and unspecified animate mechanical forces, W56, W58, W60, W64 17 17,273,932 221,745 Accidental drowning and submersion, W65-W74 3,308 88,772 1,140 Drowning and submersion while in or falling into bath-tub, W65-W66 402 730,490 9,377 Drowning and submersion while in or falling into swimming-pool, W67-W68 625 469,851 6,031 Drowning and submersion while in or falling into natural water, W69-W70 1,333 220,298 2,828 Other and unspecified drowning and submersion, W73-W74 984 309,765 3,976 Other accidental threats to breathing, W75-W84 5,891 49,848 640 Accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed, W75 596 492,713 6,325 Other accidental hanging and strangulation, W76 252 1,165,305 14,959 Threat to breathing due to cave-in, falling earth and other substances, W77 48 6,117,851 78,535 Inhalation of gastric contents, W78 377 778,931 9,999 Inhalation and ingestion of food causing obstruction of respiratory tract, W79 878 334,461 4,293 Inhalation and ingestion of other objects causing obstruction of respiratory tract, W80 3,215 91,340 1,173 Confined to or trapped in a low-oxygen environment, W81 16 18,353,553 235,604 Other and unspecified threats to breathing, W83-W84 509 576,929 7,406 Exposure to electric current, radiation, temperature, and pressure, W85-W99 405 725,079 9,308 Electric transmission lines, W85 94 3,124,009 40,103 Other and unspecified electric current, W86-W87 288 1,019,642 13,089 Radiation, W88-W91 0 --- --- Excessive heat or cold of man-made origin, W92-W93 14 20,975,489 289,262 High and low air pressure and changes in air pressure, W94 9 32,628,538 418,852 Other and unspecified man-made environmental factors, W99 0 --- --- Exposure to smoke, fire and flames, X00-X09 3,229 90944 1,167, Uncontrolled fire in building or structure, X00 2,635 111,445 1,431 Uncontrolled fire not in building or structure, X01 37 7,936,671 101,883 Controlled fire in building or structure, X02 28 10,487,744 134,631 Controlled fire not in building or structure, X03 48 6,117,851 78,535 Ignition of highly flammable material, X04 55 5,339,215 68,539 Ignition or melting of nightwear, X05 7 41,950,977 538,523 Ignition or melting of other clothing and apparel, X06 119 2,467,705 31,678 Other and unspecified smoke fire and flames, X08-X09 300 978,856 12,566 Contact with heat and hot substances, X10-X19 93 3,157,600 40,534 Contact with hot tap-water, X11 30 9,788,561 125,655 Other and unspecified heat and hot substances, X10, X12-X19 63 4,661,220 59,836 Contact with venomous animals and plants, X20-X29 81 3,625,393 46,539 Contact with venomous snakes and lizards, X20 6 48,942,807 628,277 Contact with venomous spiders, X21 14 20,975,489 269,262 Contact with hornets, wasps and bees, X23 52 5,647,247 72,494 Contact with other and unspecified venomous animal or plant, X22, X24-X29 9 32,628,538 418,852 Exposure to forces of nature, X30-X39 1,102 266,476 3,421 Exposure to excessive natural heat, X30 226 1,299,367 16,680 Exposure to excessive natural cold, X31 676 434,404 5,576 Lightning, X33 46 6,383,844 81,949 Earthquake and other earth movements, X34-X36 30 9,788,561 125,655 Cataclysmic storm, X37 63 4,661,220 59,836 Flood, X38 22 13,348,038 171,348 Exposure to other and unspecified forces of nature, X32, X39 39 7,529,663 96,658 Accidental poisoning by and exposure to noxious substances, X40-X49 20,950 14,017 180 Nonopioid analgesics, antipyretics, and antirheumatics, X40 212 1,385,174 17,781 Antiepileptic, sedative-hypnotic, antiparkinsonism, and psychotropic drugs n.e.c., X41 1,300 225,890 2,900 Narcotics and psychodysleptics [hallucinogens] n.e.c., X42 9,798 29,971 385 Other and unspecified drugs, medicaments, and biologicals, X43-X44 8,528 34,434 442 Alcohol, X45 358 820,271 10,530 Gases and vapours, X46-X47 629 466,863 5,993 Other and unspecified chemicals and noxious substances, X48-X49 125 2,349,255 30,157 Overexertion, travel and privation, X50-X57 39 7,529,663 96,658 Accidental exposure to other and unspecified factors and sequelae, X58-X59, Y86 7,156 41,036 527 Intentional self-harm, X60-X84, Y87.0, *U03 32,439 9,053 116 Intentional self-poisoning, X60-X69 5,800 50,630 650 Intentional self-harm by hanging, strangulation, and suffocation, X70 7,336 40,030 514 Intentional self-harm by firearm, X72-X74 16,750 17,532 225 Other and unspecified means and sequelae, X71, X75-X84, Y87.0, *U03 2,553 115,024 1,477 Assault, X85-Y09, Y87.1, *U01 17,357 16,919 217 Assault by firearm, X93-X95 11,624 25,263 324 Assault by sharp object, X99 2,079 141,249 1,813 Other and unspecified means and sequelae, X85-X92, X96-X98, Y00-Y09, Y87.1, *U01 3,654 80,366 1,032 Event of undetermined intent, Y10-Y34, Y87.2, Y89.9 4,976 59,015 758 Poisoning, Y10-Y19 3,455 84,995 1,091 Hanging, strangulation, and suffocation, Y20 152 1,931,953 24,800 Drowning and submersion, Y21 223 1,316,847 16,904 Firearm discharge, Y22-Y24 235 1,249,604 16,041 Exposure to smoke, fire, and flames, Y26 83 3,538,034 45,418 Falling, jumping, or pushed from a high place, Y30 71 4,136,012 53,094 Other and unspecified means and sequelae, Y25, Y27-Y29, Y31-Y34,Y87.2, Y89.9 757 387,922 4,980 Legal intervention, Y35, Y89.0 372 789,400 10,134 Legal intervention involving firearm discharge, Y35.0 311 944,234 12,121 Legal execution, Y35.5 52 5,647,247 72,494 Other and unspecified means and sequelae, Y35.1-Y35.4, Y35.6-Y35.7, Y89.0 9 32,628,538 418,852 Operations of war and sequelae, Y36, Y89.1 28 10,487,744 134,631 Complications of medical and surgical care and sequelae, Y40-Y84, Y88.0-Y88.3 2,883 101,858 1,308