The 5 Most Common Preventable Accidents

Accidents make up a significant number of injuries every year in the United States. Not every accident results in a trip to the hospital, but many are severe enough to warrant medical care.

Unfortunately, many accidents resulting in personal injury are preventable. In many situations, acting with caution could have stopped very serious injuries long before they occurred. The following are examples of the most common preventable injuries in the U.S. today.

1. Car Accidents

Vehicle collisions occur every day, but many accidents could have been avoided if drivers were simply more cautious. Car accidents are often caused by driver error that is the result of:

Making a conscious choice to follow all the rules of the road and paying full attention to the road can go a long way toward preventing car accidents. When drivers fail to drive with caution, they can cause serious accidents and could be held liable for any resulting injuries.

2. Slip and Fall Accidents

Property owners have a legal obligation to ensure the safety of their property and to prevent injuries to visitors who enter the property. Because of this, many slip and fall accidents are preventable and are the result of a negligent property owner who failed to ensure there were no hazards on his or her property.

Some of the most common causes of slip and fall accidents include:

3. Dog Bites

Not every dog bite is preventable. However, there are several things that dog owners can and should do to help prevent a dog bite from occurring. This includes:

• Knowing the dog’s temperament and keeping it away from people and things that can anger it
• Keeping the dog leashed or fenced away from strangers and visitors
• Training the dog to show it that biting is not acceptable
• Supervising the dog’s interactions with others, especially children

There are also several additional safety tips for preventing a dog bite that those interacting with a dog can do to help prevent a bite or attack.

However, the dog’s owner will ultimately be held liable for the actions of the dog and any injuries that result so long as the injury victim was not trespassing on the dog owner’s property or provoking the animal.

4. Medical Errors

Medical professionals are tasked with providing quality care to address our ailments, illnesses and injuries. In most cases, we receive the care we need and move on with our lives. However, on occasion, the negligence of a medical professional causes further injury or harm to an innocent patient.

When medical malpractice occurs, it is often the result of a poor decision made by a medical professional. Some of the most common causes of preventable medical malpractice include:

• Diagnosing the wrong medical condition or not diagnosing the condition at all
• Prescribing the wrong prescription or medication dosage
• Failing to listen to the patient’s symptoms or to read through the patient’s medical record
• Operating on the wrong body part

Medical professionals should have the proper training and policies in place to avoid causing unnecessary harm to a patient.

5. Work Injuries

Businesses and construction sites where employees work are legally required to have policies in place to prevent injuries to workers. When a company, contractor or another employee fails to follow these laws and procedures, serious preventable injuries can result. This type of negligence can include failing to:

• Have the proper safety equipment to prevent falls and other accidents
• Follow the rules and guidelines of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration
• Properly train workers to ensure their safety

Get Help from an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer

Unfortunately, not all accidents are truly preventable. In most cases, the incident was the result of someone’s decision to do or not to do something. If these actions were reckless or negligent, the injury victim may have the right to recover compensation from the at-fault individual.

If you believe your accident and injuries were preventable or were caused by another’s negligence, do not hesitate to contact our trusted New Jersey personal injury lawyers for a free consultation to learn more about your legal options. We do not charge for our services unless we recover compensation for you.

To contact us, call (800) 518-0508 today.