United States Automobiles and firearms cause 29 percent and 21 percent of all injury deaths respectively. This includes deaths from motor vehicle crashes, falls, suffocation, poisonings, fires and drownings. This includes deaths from motor vehicles crashes, falls, suffocation, poisoning, fires, and drownings. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of injury-related death, killing over 1,500 North Carolinians a year. The death rate in North Carolina from motor vehicle crashes is 21.05, higher than the national rate of 16.29.
Injuries can occur anywhere.
Approximately 50 percent of unintentional injuries happen on the road. The other 50 percent occur in homes, schools, or work. 3 Unintentional injury death rates are highest in rural areas. This is most likely due to an increased likelihood to drive and longer response time for emergency services in rural areas. 1,3 Homicide rates are highest in central city urban areas.