It is an unfortunate reality that accidents will happen in a variety of different circumstances, and some of them will lead to death. A recent report from the National Safety Council examined how various states across the U.S. ranked for safety on the roads, at work and in the home. In this report, Montana came in as one of the nation's worst. The report says that the number of accidents that led to death and were preventable in the U.S. has reached more than 146,000. There are close to 41 million accidents overall.
Montana came in 47th in the rankings. It had the lowest percentage for road safety -- 11 percent -- in the country; 32 percent at home and in the community; and 39 percent in the workplace. For road accidents, when it formulated its report, the NSC examined assorted safety issues. Included were drivers who were impaired by alcohol, distracted drivers, older drivers, those who had children in the vehicle, those who were wearing seatbelts, people driving at excessive speeds, teens behind the wheel and road users who were classified as "vulnerable." Apart from teen drivers, the state was said to be "off track" in dealing with these issues. Fatigue is referenced as a growing problem with fatal car crashes. People who are driving while tired has been compared to driving under the influence in terms of lessened reactions and ability to self-regulate.
Montana came in 38th for home fatalities. Overall in 2015, there were almost 122,000 fatal accidents at home for a variety of reasons from poisonings to firearms, falling, suffocating and choking. People have also died because of concussions from playing sports, fires and drowning. The state is said to be creating plans to prevent older people from falling and to reduce the concussion issue. Workplace fatalities numbered close to 4,900 in 2015. Montana was 34th in this category and is off track in dealing with it.
The statistics are useful when it comes to assessing the safety record of the state. People who die in a fatal car crash, a fatal workplace accident and through other incidents should be aware of these numbers. When there is any fatal accident, there will be personal, emotional and financial hardships to the family left behind. Sometimes, the only way to deal with these situations is to seek compensation in a legal filing. In situations like this, having assistance from a lawyer can be imperative.
