Causes of death from unintentional injuries among children differ significantly by age. For children under the age of 1 year, the most common cause of death was suffocation in 2015, the most recent year available. For children age 1 to 4 drowning was the most common cause of death followed closely by motor vehicle crashes. Motor vehicle crashes were the leading cause of death for children ages 5 to 9 and 10 to 14.
Top Five Causes of Children's Unintentional Injury Deaths by Age, 2015
| Age group |
Rank |
Cause |
Number |
Percent of total deaths |
| Under 1 year |
|
|
|
|
| |
1 |
Suffocation |
1,125 |
87.1% |
| |
2 |
Motor vehicle crashes |
64 |
5.0 |
| |
3 |
Drowning |
30 |
2.3 |
| |
4 |
Fire/burn |
22 |
1.7 |
| |
5 |
Natural/environment |
12 |
0.9 |
| 1 to 4 |
|
|
|
|
| |
1 |
Drowning |
390 |
31.6 |
| |
2 |
Motor vehicle crashes |
332 |
26.9 |
| |
3 |
Suffocation |
131 |
10.6 |
| |
4 |
Fire/burn |
100 |
8.1 |
| |
5 |
Pedestrian |
75 |
6.1 |
| 5 to 9 |
|
|
|
|
| |
1 |
Motor vehicle crashes |
351 |
46.5 |
| |
2 |
Drowning |
129 |
17.1 |
| |
3 |
Fire/burn |
72 |
9.5 |
| |
4 |
Other land transportation |
32 |
4.2 |
| |
5 |
Suffocation |
31 |
4.1 |
| 10 to 14 |
|
|
|
|
| |
1 |
Motor vehicle crashes |
412 |
54.0 |
| |
2 |
Drowning |
87 |
11.4 |
| |
3 |
Other land transportation |
51 |
6.7 |
| |
4 |
Fire/burn |
41 |
5.4 |
| |
5 |
Poisoning |
36 |
4.7 |
Source: National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Motor vehicle crash deaths
In the vast majority of youth motor vehicle fatalities, the child was a passenger in a vehicle; 20 percent were pedestrians; 3 percent were bicyclists. Crash deaths have declined dramatically since 1975 for all children under the age of 12, according to data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Passenger Vehicle Occupant Deaths And Rate Per Million Children Through Age 12, 1975-2015
| |
Less than one year |
One to three years |
Four to eight years |
Nine to 12 years |
| Year |
Population |
Deaths |
Rate |
Population |
Deaths |
Rate |
Population |
Deaths |
Rate |
Population |
Deaths |
Rate |
| 1975 |
3,152,345 |
190 |
60.3 |
9,333,943 |
395 |
42.3 |
17,579,867 |
451 |
25.7 |
15,785,149 |
348 |
22.00 |
| 1985 |
3,678,657 |
130 |
35.3 |
10,594,540 |
326 |
30.8 |
17,015,987 |
385 |
22.6 |
12,970,952 |
290 |
22.40 |
| 1995 |
3,813,169 |
153 |
40.1 |
11,668,778 |
346 |
29.7 |
19,309,487 |
484 |
25.1 |
15,129,050 |
356 |
23.50 |
| 2005 |
4,106,627 |
119 |
29.0 |
12,135,517 |
247 |
20.4 |
19,614,024 |
417 |
21.3 |
16,293,227 |
294 |
18.00 |
| 2006 |
4,130,153 |
115 |
27.8 |
12,265,881 |
247 |
20.1 |
19,809,458 |
375 |
18.9 |
16,101,416 |
276 |
17.10 |
| 2007 |
4,257,020 |
96 |
22.6 |
12,403,983 |
225 |
18.1 |
20,011,375 |
335 |
16.7 |
15,913,431 |
249 |
15.60 |
| 2008 |
4,313,132 |
78 |
18.1 |
12,568,765 |
163 |
13.0 |
20,289,522 |
269 |
13.3 |
15,758,360 |
189 |
12.00 |
| 2009 |
4,261,494 |
69 |
16.2 |
12,857,476 |
180 |
14.0 |
20,780,673 |
288 |
13.9 |
15,853,769 |
219 |
13.80 |
| 2010 |
3,944,153 |
59 |
15.0 |
12,194,039 |
178 |
14.6 |
20,263,474 |
256 |
12.6 |
16,541,552 |
160 |
9.70 |
| 2011 |
3,996,537 |
59 |
14.8 |
12,043,067 |
157 |
13.0 |
20,421,665 |
252 |
12.3 |
16,488,839 |
188 |
11.40 |
| 2012 |
3,943,077 |
54 |
13.7 |
11,943,920 |
191 |
16.0 |
20,523,946 |
237 |
11.5 |
16,461,629 |
159 |
9.70 |
| 2013 |
3,941,783 |
49 |
12.4 |
11,934,615 |
162 |
13.6 |
20,458,936 |
250 |
12.2 |
16,388,386 |
179 |
10.90 |
| 2014 |
3,948,350 |
47 |
11.9 |
11,925,085 |
135 |
11.3 |
20,416,182 |
249 |
12.2 |
16,376,512 |
173 |
10.60 |
| 2015 |
3,978,038 |
49 |
12.3 |
11,909,208 |
171 |
14.4 |
20,373,647 |
253 |
12.4 |
16,486,202 |
190 |
11.50 |
Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Motor Vehicle Deaths Per 100,000 Persons By Age, 2020
Children Killed Or Injured in Vehicle Crashes By Age, 2015
| Age group |
Killed |
Injured |
Total killed or injured |
| Under 5 years |
373 |
49,000 |
49,000 |
| 5 to 9 |
353 |
61,000 |
61,000 |
| 10 to 15 |
603 |
88,000 |
89,000 |
| 16 to 20 |
3,114 |
297,000 |
300,000 |
| All ages |
35,092 |
2,443,000 |
2,478,000 |
Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Restraint use
Child safety seats have reduced the number of children’s deaths from motor vehicle crashes. The National Highway Traffic Administration says that the seats reduce fatal injuries by 71 percent for children under 1 year old and by 54 percent for toddlers age 1 to 4. Child safety seats or adult seat belts have saved an estimated 11,606 lives of children under the age of 5 in passenger vehicles from 1975 to 2017.
Restraint Use Among Fatally Injured Children In Passenger Vehicles By Age, 2017
| |
|
Under 1 year |
1 to 3 |
4 to 8 |
9 to 12 |
Total |
| Unrestrained |
Number |
18 |
32 |
79 |
89 |
218 |
| |
Percent |
23% |
19% |
32% |
49% |
32% |
| Safety belt |
Number |
1 |
11 |
63 |
73 |
244 |
| |
Percent |
1% |
6% |
25% |
40% |
36% |
| Child safety seat |
Number |
52 |
116 |
75 |
1 |
244 |
| |
Percent |
68% |
68% |
30% |
1% |
36% |
| Total restrained |
Number |
53 |
127 |
138 |
74 |
392 |
| |
Percent |
69% |
75% |
56% |
41% |
58% |
| Unknown |
Number |
6 |
11 |
31 |
19 |
67 |
| |
Percent |
8% |
6% |
12% |
10% |
10% |
| Total |
Number |
77 |
170 |
248 |
182 |
677 |
| |
Percent |
100% |
100% |
100% |
100% |
100% |
Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Restraint Use Among Fatally Injured Children In Passenger Vehicles By Age, 2015
| |
|
Under 1 year |
1 to 3 |
4 to 8 |
9 to 12 |
Total |
| Unrestrained |
Number |
9 |
44 |
88 |
74 |
215 |
| |
Percent |
18% |
26% |
35% |
39% |
32% |
| Safety belt |
Number |
2 |
11 |
72 |
95 |
180 |
| |
Percent |
4% |
6% |
28% |
50% |
27% |
| Child safety seat |
Number |
32 |
100 |
69 |
2 |
203 |
| |
Percent |
65% |
58% |
27% |
1% |
31% |
| Total restrained |
Number |
34 |
111 |
141 |
97 |
383 |
| |
Percent |
69% |
65% |
56% |
51% |
58% |
| Unknown |
Number |
6 |
16 |
24 |
19 |
65 |
| |
Percent |
12% |
9% |
9% |
10% |
10% |
| Total |
Number |
49 |
171 |
253 |
190 |
663 |
| |
Percent |
100% |
100% |
100% |
100% |
100% |
Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Recreation
Among children up to the age of 14, football was the most dangerous sport, causing almost 206,000 injuries in 2015. Basketball and bicycle riding ranked second and third, causing 175,000 and 168,000 injuries, respectively. Soccer and swimming round out the top five, with 106,000 and 97,000 injuries.
Concern is growing about the risks of sports-related concussions as lawsuits filed by injured professional football players have generated national headlines. The problem also affects thousands of young people who engage in a variety of sports. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that in 2012, an estimated 329,290 children (age 19 or younger) were treated in U.S. emergency departments for sports and recreation-related injuries that included a diagnosis of concussion or traumatic brain injury.
Telefonos de los Administradores de Planes FAIR de los estados en los que estan disponibles
| Alabama |
334-943-4029 |
| California |
213-487-0111 |
| Connecticut |
860-528-9546 |
| Delaware |
215-629-8800 |
| District of Columbia |
202-393-4640 |
| Florida JUA |
850-513-3700 |
| Florida Windstorm Und. Assoc. |
904-296-6105 |
| Georgia |
770-923-7431 |
| Hawaii |
808-531-1311 |
| Illinois |
312-861-0385 |
| Indiana |
317-264-2310 |
| Iowa |
515-255-9531 |
| Kansas |
785-271-2300 |
| Kentucky |
502-425-9998 |
| Louisiana FAIR Plan |
504-831-6930 |
| Louisiana Beach Plan |
504-831-6930 |
| Maryland |
410-539-6808 |
| Massachusetts |
617-723-3800 |
| Michigan |
313-877-7400 |
| Minnesota |
612-338-7584 |
| Mississippi |
601-981-2915 |
| Missouri |
314-421-0170 |
| New Jersey |
973-622-3838 |
| New Mexico |
505-878-9563 |
| New York |
212-208-9700 |
| Ohio |
614-839-6446 |
| Oregon |
503-643-5448 |
| Pennsylvania |
215-629-8800 |
| Rhode Island |
617-723-3800 |
| South Carolina |
803-737-6180 |
| Texas |
512-899-4900 |
| Virginia |
804-358-0416 |
| Washington |
425-745-9808 |
| West Virginia |
215-629-8800 |
| Wisconsin |
414-291-5353 |
Pedalcyclists Killed And Fatality Rates By Age, 2022 (1)
| Age group |
Killed |
Population |
Fatality rate per
100,000 population |
|
| Under 5 |
5 |
18,538,353 |
0.03 |
| 5 to 9 |
14 |
20,009,195 |
0.07 |
| 10 to 14 |
37 |
20,889,839 |
0.18 |
| Children (14 and under) |
56 |
59,437,387 |
0.09 |
| 15 to 20 |
46 |
26,073,798 |
0.18 |
| 21 to 24 |
33 |
18,267,773 |
0.18 |
| 25 to 29 |
72 |
22,193,164 |
0.32 |
| 30 to 34 |
67 |
23,308,136 |
0.29 |
| 35 to 39 |
79 |
22,267,949 |
0.35 |
| 40 to 44 |
95 |
21,427,416 |
0.44 |
| 45 to 49 |
82 |
19,624,098 |
0.42 |
| 50 to 54 |
95 |
20,807,547 |
0.46 |
| 55 to 59 |
125 |
20,967,014 |
0.60 |
| 60-64 |
128 |
21,118,423 |
0.61 |
| 65-69 |
86 |
18,631,422 |
0.46 |
| 70 to 74 |
61 |
15,157,017 |
0.40 |
| 75 to 79 |
32 |
10,861,000 |
0.29 |
| 80 and over |
27 |
13,145,413 |
0.21 |
| Seniors (65 and over) |
206 |
57,794,852 |
0.36 |
| Total (2) |
1,105 |
333,287,557 |
0.33 |
(1) Pedalcyclists are defined by the National Highway Safety Administration as bicyclists and other cyclists including riders of two-wheeled, nonmotorized vehicles, tricycles and unicycles. Starting in 2022, pedalcyclists include people on motorized bicycles.
(2) Includes pedalcyclists of unknown age.
Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Pedalcyclists Killed And Fatality Rates, 2016 (1)
| Age group |
Killed |
Population (000) |
Fatality rate
per million population |
| Under 5 |
5 |
19,927 |
0.25 |
| 5 to 9 |
15 |
20,430 |
0.73 |
| 10 to 14 |
39 |
20,618 |
1.89 |
| Children (14 and under) |
59 |
60,975 |
0.97 |
| 15 to 19 |
42 |
21,130 |
1.99 |
| 20 to 24 |
46 |
22,381 |
2.06 |
| 25 to 29 |
47 |
22,891 |
2.05 |
| 30 to 34 |
50 |
21,786 |
2.30 |
| 35 to 39 |
43 |
20,774 |
2.07 |
| 40 to 44 |
51 |
19,696 |
2.59 |
| 45 to 49 |
67 |
20,948 |
3.20 |
| 50 to 54 |
101 |
21,839 |
4.62 |
| 55 to 59 |
101 |
21,980 |
4.60 |
| 60-64 |
92 |
19,483 |
4.72 |
| 65-69 |
50 |
16,820 |
2.97 |
| 70 to 74 |
37 |
11,810 |
3.13 |
| 75 to 79 |
22 |
8,368 |
2.63 |
| 80 and over |
21 |
12,246 |
1.71 |
| Seniors (65 and over) |
130 |
49,244 |
2.64 |
| Total (2) |
840 |
323,128 |
2.60 |
(1) Pedalcyclists are defined by the National Highway Safety Administration as bicyclists and othe cyclists including riders of two-wheeled, nonmotorized vehicles, tricycles and unicycles.
(2) Includes pedalcyclists of unknown age.
Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; Bureau of the Census.
