Accident

For other uses, see Accident (disambiguation).

"Misadventure" redirects here. For other uses, see Misadventure (disambiguation).

File:Partial stadium collapse at Big12 college football championship - 2005.JPG

A railing accident at a Texas Longhorns college football game, spilling fans onto the sidelines

An accident is an undesirable incidental and unplanned event that could have been prevented had circumstances leading up to the accident been recognized, and acted upon, prior to its occurrence. Most scientists who study unintentional injury avoid using the term "accident" and focus on factors that increase risk of severe injury and that reduce injury incidence and severity (Robertson, 2015).

Types

Physical and non-physical

Physical examples of accidents include unintended motor vehicle collisions or falls, being injured by touching something sharp, hot, electrical or ingesting poison. Non-physical examples are unintentionally revealing a secret or otherwise saying something incorrectly, forgetting an appointment, etc.

By activity

• Accidents during the execution of work or arising out of it are called work accidents. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), more than 337 million accidents happen on the job each year, resulting, together with occupational diseases, in more than 2.3 million deaths annually.
• In contrast, leisure-related accidents are mainly sports injuries.

By vehicle

File:A. Provost - Versailles - Railroad Disaster.jpg

Versailles rail accident in 1842

• Aviation
• Bicycles
• Sailing ships
• Traffic collisions
• Train wrecks
• Trams

Most common causes

See also: List of preventable causes of death

Incidence of accidents (of a severity of resulting in seeking medical care), sorted by activity (in Denmark in 2002).

Poisons, vehicle collisions and falls are the most common causes of fatal injuries. According to a 2005 survey of injuries sustained at home, which used data from the National Vital Statistics System of the United States National Center for Health Statistics, falls, poisoning, and fire/burn injuries are the most common causes of death.

The United States also collects statistically valid injury data (sampled from 100 hospitals) through the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System administered by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. This program was revised in 2000 to include all injuries rather than just injuries involving products. Data on emergency room visits is also collected through the National Health Interview Survey. In The U.S. the Bureau of Labor Statistics has available on their website extensive statistics on workplace accidents.

Accident models

Many models to characterize and analyze accidents have been proposed, listed and referenced in this reference.

Further information: Trauma (medicine)

See also

General

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Transportation

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Other specific topics

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References

Robertson, LS. Injury Epidemiology: Fourth Edition. Free online at www.nanlee.net