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Complete Health Indicator Report of Deaths due to Unintentional Injury

Definition

Deaths with unintentional injury as the underlying cause of death. ICD-10 codes: V01-X59, Y85-Y86 Unintentional injuries are commonly referred to as accidents and include poisonings (drugs, alcohol, fumes, pesticides, etc.), motor vehicle crashes, falls, fire, drowning, suffocation, and any other external cause of death.

Numerator

Number of deaths due to unintentional injury

Denominator

Total number of persons in the population

Why Is This Important?

Unintentional injury was the leading cause of deaths among persons aged 15-44 years and the fourth leading cause among all ages combined in 2020. Unintentional injuries are, for the most part, preventable.

Healthy People Objective: Reduce unintentional injury deaths

U.S. Target: 36.4 deaths per 100,000 population

How Are We Doing?

In New Jersey, nearly 4,800 deaths were due to unintentional injuries in 2020. These include poisonings, falls, motor vehicle-related fatalities, suffocation, drowning, fire and smoke-related injuries, and others. New Jersey's age-adjusted death rate due to unintentional injury rose sharply between 2014 and 2018 due to a rise in unintentional poisonings but has been relatively stable since then. In 2019, falls became the second leading cause of unintentional injury deaths for the first time, while motor vehicle crashes dropped to third. This was due to both a slow decline in motor vehicle-related injuries and a slow increase in fall-related injuries. In the total population and among each racial/ethnic group, males have much higher death rates than females. In 2020, the age-adjusted death rate due to unintentional injury was highest among Black males followed by White males. County rates per 100,000 population (age-adjusted) ranged from a low of 24.4 in Hunterdon to a high of 105.5 in Cape May.

How Do We Compare With the U.S.?

The New Jersey age-adjusted death rate due to unintentional injury was 30% below the U.S. rate in 2009, but the gap has disappeared due to the opioid crisis. New Jersey's motor vehicle safety laws likely contribute to the state's continued lower motor vehicle-related death rate. The state's dense population also allows most residents to be in close proximity to hospitals that offer high quality trauma treatment.

Available Services

Poison Control: [http://www.njpies.org/] or 1-800-222-1222 Fall Prevention: [http://nj.gov/humanservices/doas/services/fallprev/index.html] Child Safety Seat Check Schedule: [https://www.njoag.gov/about/divisions-and-offices/division-of-highway-traffic-safety-home/division-of-highway-traffic-safety-child-passenger-safety/]


Related Indicators

Related Health Care System Factors Indicators:


Related Risk Factors Indicators:


Related Health Status Outcomes Indicators:



Data Tables


Age-Adjusted Death Rate due to Unintentional Injury by Year, New Jersey and the United States, 2000-2020

YearUS/NJDeaths per 100,000 PopulationLower LimitUpper LimitNumer- ator
Record Count: 42
2000US34.934.735.297,900
2000NJ26.725.627.82,291
2001US35.735.535.9101,537
2001NJ28.026.829.12,411
2002US37.136.937.4106,742
2002NJ29.928.831.12,604
2003US37.637.437.8109,277
2003NJ27.126.028.22,377
2004US38.137.838.3112,012
2004NJ26.425.327.52,331
2005US39.539.339.7117,809
2005NJ28.927.830.02,567
2006US40.240.040.5121,599
2006NJ29.228.130.42,596
2007US40.440.140.6123,706
2007NJ27.126.028.22,427
2008US39.239.039.5121,902
2008NJ26.925.828.02,437
2009US37.537.337.7118,021
2009NJ26.425.427.52,421
2010US38.037.838.2120,859
2010NJ26.725.627.82,491
2011US39.138.939.4126,438
2011NJ28.627.529.72,688
2012US39.038.839.3127,792
2012NJ31.730.632.92,991
2013US39.439.239.6130,557
2013NJ31.930.733.13,029
2014US40.540.340.7136,053
2014NJ31.130.032.32,970
2015US43.243.043.4146,571
2015NJ34.032.835.23,219
2016US47.447.247.7161,374
2016NJ41.239.842.53,840
2017US49.449.249.6169,936
2017NJ48.046.649.54,484
2018US48.047.848.2167,127
2018NJ50.248.751.74,676
2019US49.349.049.5173,040
2019NJ49.347.850.74,657
2020US57.657.357.8200,955
2020NJ50.549.152.04,776

Data Sources

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Underlying Cause of Death File. CDC WONDER On-line Database accessed at [https://wonder.cdc.gov/Deaths-by-Underlying-Cause.html]
  • Death Certificate Database, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry, New Jersey Department of Health
  • Population Estimates, [https://www.nj.gov/labor/lpa/dmograph/est/est_index.html State Data Center], New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development


Age-Adjusted Death Rate due to Unintentional Injury by Race/Ethnicity, New Jersey, 2020

Race/EthnicityDeaths per 100,000 PopulationLower LimitUpper LimitNumer- ator
Record Count: 6
White57.755.659.83,018
Black67.462.772.2841
Hispanic39.636.742.4709
Asian13.711.316.2120
New Jersey50.549.152.04,776
United States57.657.357.8200,955

Data Sources

  • Death Certificate Database, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry, New Jersey Department of Health
  • Population Estimates, [https://www.nj.gov/labor/lpa/dmograph/est/est_index.html State Data Center], New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development


Age-Adjusted Death Rate due to Unintentional Injury by Race/Ethnicity and Sex, New Jersey, 2020

Race/EthnicitySexDeaths per 100,000 PopulationLower LimitUpper LimitNumer- ator
Record Count: 8
WhiteMale82.678.986.32,001
WhiteFemale33.531.235.81,017
BlackMale104.996.3113.5608
BlackFemale34.730.039.4233
HispanicMale61.956.866.9563
HispanicFemale16.814.219.5146
AsianMale18.314.322.377
AsianFemale9.56.712.343

Data Notes

Data for White, Black, and Asian do not include Hispanics. Hispanic ethnicity includes persons of any race.

Data Sources

  • Death Certificate Database, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry, New Jersey Department of Health
  • Population Estimates, [https://www.nj.gov/labor/lpa/dmograph/est/est_index.html State Data Center], New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development


Age-Adjusted Death Rate due to Unintentional Injury by Year and Cause, New Jersey, 2000-2020

YearInjury TypeDeaths per 100,000 PopulationLower LimitUpper LimitNumer- ator
Record Count: 84
2000Poisoning6.25.66.7527
2000Fall2.82.53.2248
2000Motor Vehicle - Traffic9.08.49.7760
2000Suffocation1.61.41.9143
2001Poisoning6.76.17.2577
2001Fall3.02.63.4266
2001Motor Vehicle - Traffic8.88.29.4741
2001Suffocation1.81.52.0154
2002Poisoning8.17.58.7704
2002Fall3.22.83.6287
2002Motor Vehicle - Traffic8.88.29.5752
2002Suffocation1.71.42.0150
2003Poisoning7.26.67.8623
2003Fall3.02.63.4271
2003Motor Vehicle - Traffic9.18.49.7777
2003Suffocation1.41.21.7129
2004Poisoning6.05.56.5520
2004Fall3.93.54.3359
2004Motor Vehicle - Traffic8.98.29.5763
2004Suffocation1.61.41.9148
2005Poisoning8.47.89.0730
2005Fall4.13.74.5380
2005Motor Vehicle - Traffic8.68.09.2746
2005Suffocation2.01.82.4189
2006Poisoning8.88.19.4759
2006Fall4.03.64.5379
2006Motor Vehicle - Traffic8.78.19.3751
2006Suffocation1.71.42.0162
2007Poisoning7.77.18.3662
2007Fall3.93.54.4375
2007Motor Vehicle - Traffic8.07.48.6693
2007Suffocation1.71.42.0163
2008Poisoning8.07.48.6707
2008Fall4.23.84.7408
2008Motor Vehicle - Traffic6.66.07.1571
2008Suffocation1.81.52.1171
2009Poisoning8.57.99.1740
2009Fall4.03.64.4391
2009Motor Vehicle - Traffic6.35.86.8554
2009Suffocation1.91.62.2181
2010Poisoning9.38.79.9822
2010Fall4.03.64.5410
2010Motor Vehicle - Traffic6.25.76.8554
2010Suffocation1.71.52.0172
2011Poisoning10.810.211.5971
2011Fall3.83.44.2386
2011Motor Vehicle - Traffic7.26.67.7647
2011Suffocation1.61.31.8158
2012Poisoning13.012.213.71,146
2012Fall4.84.45.3503
2012Motor Vehicle - Traffic6.86.27.3617
2012Suffocation1.81.52.0184
2013Poisoning14.113.314.91,252
2013Fall4.54.15.0479
2013Motor Vehicle - Traffic6.05.46.5546
2013Suffocation2.11.82.4212
2014Poisoning13.612.814.31,192
2014Fall4.84.35.2512
2014Motor Vehicle - Traffic6.05.56.5557
2014Suffocation1.81.52.0186
2015Poisoning16.115.317.01,406
2015Fall4.84.35.2511
2015Motor Vehicle - Traffic6.35.86.8578
2015Suffocation1.61.41.9178
2016Poisoning23.222.224.22,015
2016Fall4.94.45.3532
2016Motor Vehicle - Traffic6.66.17.2610
2016Suffocation1.61.41.9176
2017Poisoning29.928.731.02,605
2017Fall4.84.35.2527
2017Motor Vehicle - Traffic6.76.27.2631
2017Suffocation1.71.42.0182
2018Poisoning32.931.734.12,870
2018Fall4.74.35.2537
2018Motor Vehicle - Traffic6.35.86.8585
2018Suffocation1.71.42.0189
2019Poisoning31.530.432.72,784
2019Fall5.24.75.6605
2019Motor Vehicle - Traffic6.35.76.8584
2019Suffocation1.61.31.8173
2020Poisoning32.130.933.32,836
2020Fall5.34.85.8613
2020Motor Vehicle - Traffic6.45.96.9604
2020Suffocation1.51.31.8172

Data Notes

Only causes with more than 100 deaths each year are shown. "Poisoning" includes drugs, alcohol, gases, pesticides, and other chemicals and noxious substances. "Suffocation" includes inhalation or ingestion of food, gastric contents, or other objects causing obstruction of respiratory tract; unintentional suffocation, strangulation, or hanging in bed or elsewhere; threat to breathing due to cave-in, falling earth and other substances; trapped in a low-oxygen environment; and other threats to breathing.

Data Sources

  • Death Certificate Database, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry, New Jersey Department of Health
  • Population Estimates, [https://www.nj.gov/labor/lpa/dmograph/est/est_index.html State Data Center], New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development


Unintentional Injury Deaths by Cause, New Jersey, 2020

Injury TypePercentage of Unintentional Injury DeathsNumer- ator
Record Count: 11
Poisoning59.4%2,836
Fall12.8%613
Motor Vehicle - Traffic12.7%605
Suffocation3.6%172
Drowning/Submersion1.6%78
Fire/Flame/Smoke1.0%47
Natural/Environmental0.5%26
Other Injury Mechanisms2.5%119
Unspecified Injury5.9%281

Data Notes

"Poisoning" includes drugs, alcohol, gases, pesticides, and other chemicals and noxious substances. "Suffocation" includes inhalation or ingestion of food, gastric contents, or other objects causing obstruction of respiratory tract; unintentional suffocation, strangulation, or hanging in bed or elsewhere; threat to breathing due to cave-in, falling earth and other substances; trapped in a low-oxygen environment; and other threats to breathing. "Other Injury Mechanisms" include other land transport (non-traffic, non-motor vehicle), non-land transport (air, water, etc.), struck by/against, machinery, firearm, hot object/substance or caustic substance, cutting/piercing, and other specified injuries.

Data Source

Death Certificate Database, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry, New Jersey Department of Health


Age-Adjusted Death Rate due to Unintentional Injury by Race/Ethnicity and Cause, New Jersey, 2018-2020

Injury TypeRace/EthnicityDeaths per 100,000 PopulationLower LimitUpper Limit
Record Count: 24
PoisoningWhite40.639.541.6
PoisoningBlack44.842.647.1
PoisoningHispanic23.021.724.3
PoisoningAsian2.92.23.5
FallWhite5.65.26.0
FallBlack2.82.23.4
FallHispanic3.93.44.5
FallAsian3.02.33.6
Motor Vehicle - TrafficWhite5.95.56.3
Motor Vehicle - TrafficBlack8.47.49.3
Motor Vehicle - TrafficHispanic6.55.87.1
Motor Vehicle - TrafficAsian2.51.93.1
SuffocationWhite1.61.41.8
SuffocationBlack2.11.62.6
SuffocationHispanic1.10.91.4
SuffocationAsian**
Drowning/SubmersionWhite0.60.50.8
Drowning/SubmersionBlack0.80.51.2
Drowning/SubmersionHispanic0.60.40.8
Drowning/SubmersionAsian**
Fire/Flame/SmokeWhite0.40.30.5
Fire/Flame/SmokeBlack0.70.41.0
Fire/Flame/SmokeHispanic0.50.30.6
Fire/Flame/SmokeAsian**

Data Notes

Data for White, Black, and Asian do not include Hispanics. Hispanic ethnicity includes persons of any race. **There are too few deaths among Asians to calculate reliable rates for some injury types. Those are denoted by a blank bar in the graph. "Poisoning" includes drugs, alcohol, gases, pesticides, and other chemicals and noxious substances. "Suffocation" includes inhalation or ingestion of food, gastric contents, or other objects causing obstruction of respiratory tract; unintentional suffocation, strangulation, or hanging in bed or elsewhere; threat to breathing due to cave-in, falling earth and other substances; trapped in a low-oxygen environment; and other threats to breathing.

Data Sources

  • Death Certificate Database, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry, New Jersey Department of Health
  • Population Estimates, [https://www.nj.gov/labor/lpa/dmograph/est/est_index.html State Data Center], New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development


Age-Adjusted Death Rate due to Unintentional Injury by Sex and Cause, New Jersey, 2018-2020

Injury TypeSexDeaths per 100,000 PopulationLower LimitUpper Limit
Record Count: 14
PoisoningMale48.447.249.5
PoisoningFemale16.315.617.0
FallMale7.06.57.4
FallFemale3.63.33.9
Motor Vehicle - TrafficMale9.38.89.8
Motor Vehicle - TrafficFemale3.53.23.8
SuffocationMale2.01.82.3
SuffocationFemale1.31.11.5
Drowning/SubmersionMale1.21.01.4
Drowning/SubmersionFemale0.20.10.3
Fire/Flame/SmokeMale0.60.40.7
Fire/Flame/SmokeFemale0.30.20.4
Natural/EnvironmentalMale0.40.30.5
Natural/EnvironmentalFemale0.20.10.2

Data Notes

"Poisoning" includes drugs, alcohol, gases, pesticides, and other chemicals and noxious substances. "Suffocation" includes inhalation or ingestion of food, gastric contents, or other objects causing obstruction of respiratory tract; unintentional suffocation, strangulation, or hanging in bed or elsewhere; threat to breathing due to cave-in, falling earth and other substances; trapped in a low-oxygen environment; and other threats to breathing.

Data Sources

  • Death Certificate Database, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry, New Jersey Department of Health
  • Population Estimates, [https://www.nj.gov/labor/lpa/dmograph/est/est_index.html State Data Center], New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development


Age-Adjusted Death Rate due to Unintentional Injury by County, New Jersey, 2020

CountyDeaths per 100,000 Standardized PopulationLower LimitUpper LimitNumer- ator
Record Count: 23
Atlantic93.481.7105.1259
Bergen35.131.338.9354
Burlington54.647.761.4260
Camden77.970.285.6408
Cape May105.584.5126.593
Cumberland82.267.696.9123
Essex53.348.258.3458
Gloucester76.766.786.7222
Hudson35.931.440.5252
Hunterdon24.415.733.136
Mercer50.943.658.2194
Middlesex44.239.748.8388
Monmouth49.243.754.7311
Morris35.029.840.2190
Ocean63.457.169.7374
Passaic52.045.758.3276
Salem84.461.6107.251
Somerset31.025.037.0110
Sussex57.645.070.185
Union45.039.550.6265
Warren61.946.976.967
New Jersey50.549.052.04,776
United States57.657.357.8200,955

Data Sources

  • Death Certificate Database, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry, New Jersey Department of Health
  • Population Estimates, [https://www.nj.gov/labor/lpa/dmograph/est/est_index.html State Data Center], New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development

References and Community Resources

CDC Injury Prevention and Control: [https://www.cdc.gov/injury/index.html] CDC's Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System: [https://www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars/index.html] See links in Related Indicators for more references and resources.

Page Content Updated On 07/12/2022, Published on 07/25/2022
The information provided above is from the Department of Health's NJSHAD web site (https://nj.gov/health/shad). The information published on this website may be reproduced without permission. Please use the following citation: " Retrieved Thu, 28 March 2024 14:27:40 from Department of Health, New Jersey State Health Assessment Data Web site: https://nj.gov/health/shad ".

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