The federal election is fast approaching, as it has been for the past 1,000 years (or so it feels, at least). With a constant parade of television ads, newspaper reports, and dinner table conversations, the pre-election fervor puts Canadians at their most knowledgeable on all the important issues: political scandals, the environment, and the apparently very important issue of Justin Trudeau’s hair. As the polls continue to reveal the economy as one of the top concerns for Canadians, frugal fiscal finagling is politically essential. Now consider that, in Ontario alone, injuries cost an estimated 5.7 billion dollars to the health system—nearly the same amount as cancer—and that, unlike cancer, approximately 95 percent of costs stem from predictable and preventable injuries. Any economists reading should perk up here; if we can prevent injuries, we can save money. So rather than filing a personal injury claim, the government can work to stop injuries altogether.
The Whos and the Hows
It’s impossible to prevent injuries without knowing who’s getting injured and how those injuries are happening. Fortunately, several organizations across Ontario have done thorough research to reveal just these facts (with the intent of reducing personal injury claims).
Who Gets Injured?
Injuries can happen to anyone, of course. Statistically, though, injuries are far more common among specific age, socio-economic, and regional groups. Canada-wide, seniors, youth, and children are most susceptible to injury. Troublingly, unintentional injuries are significantly more common among Aboriginal people compared to other Canadians. Furthermore, the rates of death, hospitalization, and permanent injury are about 1.5 times higher for Northern Ontarians than the rest of the population.
How Do Injuries Happen?
Though unintentional injuries, on a micro scale, seem unique, on a macro scale they fall under relatively homogenous categories. In 2005, motor vehicle accidents were the leading cause of traumatic injury in Ontario, at 44 percent. Car accident injuries were most likely to befall people under the age of 25. With 34 percent of total traumatic injuries, falls were next most common. The elderly and children are most likely to suffer falls. Finally, about ten percent of major injuries came from sports and recreational activities.
Injury Prevention
Expert strategists, urban planners, and public health policymakers believe that a comprehensive injury prevention campaign could facilitate significant cost reduction for the Ontario government (which means a significant cost reduction for the Ontario taxpayer). The experts believe that a well-executed plan might:
- Reduce falls among seniors above 55 by 20 percent, leading to 4,000 fewer hospital stays and 1,000 fewer older adults with disabilities;
- Reduce falls among children younger than 14 by 20 percent, leading to 3,000 fewer injuries and 62 million dollars in annual savings; and
- Reduce motor vehicle accidents by 30 percent, saving 300 million dollars and 25,000 injuries annually.
Whether these goals come to fruition depends on administrative machinations that can take years to creak through the gears (especially during an election, when any economic policy is scrutinized with surgical precision). Until then, filing a personal injury claim is your best bet to get yourself back into shape after an injury. Look for a free injury claim consultation today.
Sources:
http://www.mhp.gov.on.ca/en/prevention/injury-prevention/strategy.pdf
https://www.cna-aiic.ca/~/media/cna/files/en/fact_sheet_23_e.pdf?la=en
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/vote-compass-canada-election-2015-issues-canadians-1.3222945