Site Search

Get Luxury News by Email

Live the Good Life

Categories more

Sections

Other

Walking Disasters – Why are Some People More Accident-Prone than Others?

Be the first to review this item!

Published
12/02/2021

We all know that one person, who can’t seem to catch a break; no sooner than they’ve burned themselves making a cup of tea, they’ve spilled it tripping up the stairs, then promptly slipped up in collecting dishcloths to clean up after themselves. If you don’t know that one, person, you may well be that person. But why are some people more accident prone than others? Does it come down to jobs, places, and times – or could something more be at play?

When Are You More Likely to Suffer an Accident?

According to a report by personal injury specialists National Accident Helpline, one day sticks out as the day on which most accidental injuries occur: the 1st August. The report indicates that more than 1,000 accidents resulting in injury had been recorded on that day by the solicitors since 2013; and that the number represents a 169% increase on the least accident-prone day of the year, Christmas Day.

As far as days of the week are concerned, the report highlights that the highest volume of personal injury claims regard injuries incurred on a Friday, amounting to 17% of all claims – possibly relating to the end of the work week, and the working population either hurrying to finish tasks or letting their hair down after a hard week of working. In contrast to the high likelihood of injury on Fridays, only 14% of claims are made on Sundays.

Where Are You More Likely to Suffer an Accident?

The same report outlines where in the UK people were most likely to experience an accident that wasn’t their fault; of the top five worst postcodes for accident occurrences, three were in London, with Croydon’s central postcode CR0 taking the top spot. According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), the most common place for accidents to occur is the home – with 6,000 fatal accidents occurring in homes every year.

Who’s More Likely to Be Accident-Prone?

Interestingly, accident prone-ness has been linked to more than just an occasional disposition; various studies over the past 30 years have linked clumsiness and increased injury to long-term conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder and high blood pressure – and some studies have gone further, describing accident prone-ness as a chronic condition or disease in its own right. With this in mind, it may not simply come down to luck or even occupation; it could well be a signifier of something more serious going on with your body.

Also, certain jobs are more likely to invite accidents than others; according to a recent report, agricultural positions have the highest concentration of work-related deaths, with 167 per year. Waste collection and construction jobs also appear on the list, suggesting they may be positions to avoid if you already find yourself on the clumsy side.

Comments