Fatal accident statistics released by BLS indicate an increase

Missourians don’t think that when a loved one leaves for work that it will be the last time they see them. However, the prospect of a fatal accident on the job is very real and can happen in a wide range of occupations, not just the ones that seem the most dangerous. Information and statistics can be vital for people who were injured or lost a loved one in a fatal accident at work to permit them to have a grasp on these numbers so they can consider a legal filing for compensation.

Statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries says that, in 2016, there were the highest number of fatalities for nearly a decade. The total number – 5,190 – is a 7 percent rise from 2015 when there were 4,836. This marks the third consecutive year where there was a rise in fatalities in the workplace and the first time that the number surpassed 5,000 since 2008. The most frequent job in which people died was in the transportation industry. There were 2,083 of these accidents – 40 percent all fatalities.

The third most frequent cause of death was people slipping, tripping and falling, which saw a 6 percent rise to 849. That cause of death has been rising since 2011 and the total has risen by 25 percent since that year. Overdose of drugs and alcohol is becoming a growing problem as well. It has increased by 52 to 217 in 2016, a rise of 32 percent. Demographically, Asian, non-Hispanic workers had a rise of 46 fatal accidents from 2015 to 2016 for a total of 160. Black or African-American, non-Hispanic workers had a 19 percent rise to 587. People who were born outside of the U.S. constituted around 20 percent of the fatal work incidents.

As these numbers show, a fatal accident can happen to anyone at any time no matter what kind of job they are doing. Naturally, some jobs are more dangerous than others, but anyone who suffers the loss of a loved one on the job will face similar problems, such as lost income, loss of companionship and other issues. Having legal assistance is crucial to file a wrongful death lawsuit.

Source: businessinsurance.com, “Fatal workplace injuries surge,” Gloria Gonzalez, Dec. 19, 2017