Dangerous Ranking: New Mexico Is Highest in Injury-Related Deaths

New Mexico has the highest rate of injury-related deaths in the country.

2012-07-01

July 01, 2012 (Press-News.org) National rankings are revealing. If a state is excelling or falling short in a certain area, comparative assessments can show how it stacks up against others.

In the case of New Mexico, the rankings on injury-related deaths are disturbing. New Mexico has the highest rate of these deaths in the country, according to a new report by two respected nonprofit groups.

This article will discuss what that report found, and what results say about fatal car accidents and other accident deaths in New Mexico.

Accident Deaths in New Mexico

The survey was conducted by the Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. It found that the rate of injury-related deaths in New Mexico is 97.8 per 100,000.

That rate is the highest in the country. The national average is 36.1 per 100,000. So New Mexico's rate of injury-related deaths is 2 1/2 times the national average.

The report was called "The Facts Hurt." The goal was not only to document the problem of deaths from injuries, but to identify ways that injuries could be prevented more effectively.

Nationally, the injury numbers really add up. About 50 million Americans require medical treatment for injuries every year. More than 2.8 million of these require hospitalization.

The numbers of deaths are also daunting. The number of children and teens who die each year from injuries suffered in accidents is nearly 12,000.

Injury Prevention

The Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation enlisted a committee of injury prevention specialists to help with the report. The goal was to develop baseline information on policy strategies that are associated with reducing injuries and untimely deaths.

These specialists found, for example, that 34 states and the District of Columbia fail to require ignition interlocks after drunk driving convictions. The interlock device can reduce the risk of another impaired driving accident.

Another example is concussion safety laws in youth sports, to help prevent traumatic brain injuries. Thirteen states lack such laws.

Of course, having a law on the books is no guarantee of consistent enforcement. This is often the case in the 30-some states that have various bans or restrictions on texting while driving or other prohibited cellphone use behind the wheel.

No state is perfect. But to improve prevention of injury-related deaths, New Mexico has lots of work to do.

Article provided by Davis Law Firm
Visit us at yournewmexicolawfirm.com

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Health Care Coverage is Complicated by Divorce

2012-07-01

A big concern for non-working spouses in a divorce might be continued medical insurance coverage once the decree is finalized. Many such individuals have insurance through their soon to be ex-spouse or former spouse's employer. Going without insurance is not a viable option for most people, so many may be left asking what they can do to ensure coverage when entering the single life. What Are the Options? The first issue to be aware of is that it is not possible to stay on a former spouse's insurance once the divorce is finalized, if such coverage is provided through ...

Florida Makes Major Changes to Car-Accident PIP Coverage

2012-07-01

Every Florida driver is required to carry personal injury protection insurance. PIP coverage, also called "no-fault insurance," pays for medical care for injuries sustained in a car accident, regardless of who was at fault. In recent years, Florida's PIP coverage has become very expensive. Some commentators blamed the price hike on unscrupulous medical providers who tried to get the maximum $10,000 benefit out of every patient. Others attributed the price increases to the insurance companies' own profit motives. Regardless of the reasons, Florida lawmakers ...

Childhood Sexual Assault Statute of Limitations Provides Justice for Adults

2012-07-01

While witness testimony in the Jerry Sandusky trial and the ongoing developments in the Catholic Church sex abuse scandal highlight the tragic consequences sexual abuse in childhood can have on adult victims, these cases also emphasize that justice can still be served years after abuse occurs. In Connecticut, childhood sexual abuse victims can seek civil damages for the abuse they suffered through the state's generous statute of limitations on these kinds of suits. How the Statute of Limitations for Civil Suits Works Section 52-577d of the Connecticut State Statutes ...

Proper Commercial Truck Maintenance Is Vital for Accident Avoidance

2012-07-01

Commercial truck technology has come a long way in recent years, with some parts able to outlive the truck on which they are installed. Though these improvements make commercial truck maintenance easier, they do not completely alleviate the need for maintenance checks. Proper maintenance is one way to ensure commercial vehicles are safe and that defects in the truck itself are less likely to cause accidents. Axles and Truck Suspensions: Two Maintenance Concerns A truck's suspension and axles are vital pieces of its anatomy. Either may compromise safety if not in good ...

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie Proposes Mandatory Drug Treatment for Non-Violent Offenders

2012-07-01

Chris Christie, Governor of New Jersey, purposed during his State of the State speech a change in the way drug offenders are punished. His plan would direct non-violent offenders into treatment programs instead of prison. "Everyone Deserves A Second Chance." He stated in his address, "[L]et us reclaim the lives of those drug offenders who have not committed a violent crime." He also admitted that current drug policies, and implicitly, the war on drugs have failed. Treatment Is Less Expensive Than Prison Governor Christie pointed out that, ...

Distracted Doctoring a Disturbing Trend in Medical Care

2012-07-01

Medical doctors and personnel are expected to proficiently multitask in order to diagnose and treat their patients in a timely and effective manner. In recent years, the addition of technology has assisted in making multitasking easier. From instant access to medical records to drug information to case studies, computers, smart phones and other electronic devices have helped to reduce medical errors. However, they are also leading to medical errors. Startling new statistics and cases are revealing that doctors, nurses and technicians may be distracted. They are increasingly ...

South Carolina MADD Chapter Calls for Tougher DUI Laws

2012-07-01

People always have plenty of questions after a car accident, regardless of what led to the crash. When personal injuries or a wrongful death are caused by a drunk driver, a variety of legal issues might come into play, including evidence of intoxication and special legal claims based on dram shop liability. Many highway safety advocates argue that the best way to prevent drunk driving accidents is stiffer penalties and stronger enforcement. To that end, members of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) recently urged South Carolina lawmakers to pass tougher DUI laws. Advocating ...

Ignition Interlock Would Be Mandated on First DUI Conviction in South Carolina

2012-07-01

A bill has been introduced in South Carolina's legislature that would force those convicted of a first-time DUI offense to install an ignition interlock system on their cars. Current law in South Carolina requires the use of ignition interlocks for drivers upon their second DUI conviction. Mothers Against Drunk Driving recently sponsored a rally at the South Carolina Capitol to urge passage of the bill. MADD points to statistics that show drunken driving deaths have been reduced in the 16 states that require ignition interlocks for all offenders convicted of DUIs. The ...

Texas Divorcing Couples Should Guard Their Privacy

2012-07-01

In a divorce, former spouses are known to use every bit of information available to gain an advantage, be it for custody of a child or the division of assets. The need for information to gain position over one party raises privacy concerns. The interception and misuse of confidential information sway the judge on a contested issue. Primarily, it used to be through word of mouth that private information was conveyed, but now technologies like the Internet and social media play an important role in privacy during and after divorce. Passwords After divorce, there ...

Bankruptcy May Help, Not Hurt Credit in the Long Run

2012-07-01

Many people believe that filing for bankruptcy permanently ruins credit scores and makes it impossible to obtain credit cards or home loans in the future. This is false. In fact, the experience of those who file for bankruptcy is that their credit score improves within a short period of time after completing the bankruptcy process. Bankruptcy does not automatically destroy credit scores. It's true the act of filing counts as a negative on your credit score, but the exact consequences will depend on a variety of factors. Debtors with poor credit scores to begin with may ...

New research delves into strengthening radiology education during a time of workforce shortages and financial constraints

The ideal scent detection dog is confident, persistent and resilient, without insecurities or neuroticism, according to a study featuring Dutch police dog handlers

Elusive beaked whales off the Louisiana coast may sometimes be diving right to the seafloor, finds new 3D acoustic technology which accurately pinpoints their locations using their echolocation clicks

The vulnerable Amazonian manatee is most often found where human activity is low, with a new eDNA-based method most commonly detecting the freshwater mammal in the remote western Amazon

Dangerous Ranking: New Mexico Is Highest in Injury-Related Deaths

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES: