injuries in canada: stats, impact and resources
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in 2022, the total number of injuries from car accidents in canada was 118,853, with 8,851 being serious, and 1,931 being fatal.
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injuries can range in severity, varying from minor cuts that can be treated with only antibacterial cream and a band-aid to more severe injuries that leave lasting complications for the person who sustained them. more severe injuries often lead to disabilities, including blindness, intellectual deficits, and brain damage.
in some cases, an injury can also be fatal, with injuries being considered the sixth leading cause of death in canada.
injuries can be both unintentional and intentional, and are typically caused by a range of varying events, including:
- accidents, such as falls and car crashes
- violence, including assaults or intentional self-harm
- exposure to harmful substances, such as burns from heat, chemicals, radiation, and poisoning
- workplace accidents
injuries, both minor and severe, can reduce a person’s overall quality of life can put a strain on their financial and mental health, especially if they’re left with lasting complications or disabilities.
injury stats in canada
the total number of injuries from all causes is difficult to determine, as information regarding injury rates varies depending on the year the data was last collected.
when broken down into categories, motor vehicle accidents account for a significant portion of the total injuries that occur each year in canada. in 2022, the total number of injuries from car accidents was 118,853, with 8,851 being serious, and 1,931 being fatal.
in 2022, it was reported that a total of 39,465 work-related injuries occurred in federally regulated workplaces, with 45.9 per cent of those being disabling, 53.9 per cent being minor, and 0.2 per cent being fatal. the industries that reported the highest total of workplace injuries were road transportation, federal public services, and air transportation.
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when examining workplace injuries across all sectors, the total number of injuries is significantly higher, at 348,747, with 993 being fatal.
falls, as a leading cause of injury in the country, accounted for approximately 654,000 reported emergency room visits in 2017, with 152,000 people requiring one or more nights in the hospital to treat the injury. out of that total number, 72 per cent were under the age of 65. however, 71 per cent of those who had to stay in the hospital after a fall were older than 65. the most common injuries seen after a fall are fractures, but head trauma and other complications can lead to more severe outcomes. in 2022, 7,189 fall cases were fatal.
in 2022, a total of 536,120 violence-driven incidents occurred. of those violent injuries, intimate partner violence was the number one leading cause of violence-driven injuries reported at a rate of 117,093. the incidents that resulted in death accounted for roughly 882 of those incidents.
exposure to toxins, cold-related injuries, and carbon monoxide poisoning also causes injuries in canada. between 2011 and 2023, 38,592 cold-related injuries necessitated a hospital visit, and between 2016 and 2022, 361 exposure incidents occurred in laboratories across the country. between 2011 and 2023, 767 carbon monoxide-related events were reported.
intentional injuries, including self-harm and attempted suicides, accounted for roughly 20,000 hospitalizations in 2021-2022.
the total number of deaths in 2022 from unintentional injuries was 18,365, and 3,593 people died from intentional injuries that same year.
impact of injuries on canadian society
the cost of injury in canada report 2021 notes that preventable injuries cost the canadian economy approximately $29.4 billion per year, with $20.4 billion representing direct healthcare costs, including hospital care, physician visits, medication, supplies, diagnostic tests, and rehabilitation services.
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the highest costs were associated with three specific injuries:
- motor vehicle accidents at $3.6 billion
- suicide/self-harm at $2.9 billion
- unintentional poisoning at $2.6 billion
those over the age of 65 incurred the highest costs, at $5.6 billion, with adults falling closely behind at $3.0 billion.
when accidents resulted in death, the average cost per death was $397,883. the price per injury lowers significantly for those who get hurt and survive, with $84,280 required for a disability-causing injury and $2,360 needed for an injury that requires a hospital visit.
indirect costs of injuries, which include lost productivity, accommodation, transportation, and lost wages, account for a total of roughly $8.9 billion, with unintentional poisoning and suicide/self-harm being the two leading injuries contributing to the indirect healthcare costs.
resources and support for injuries
the type of support and resources required by people who have experienced an injury will vary greatly. for example, someone who has a traumatic brain injury due to a fall, motor vehicle collision, or violence may need to seek out more support than someone with a fractured wrist.
for more severe injuries and those that cause disability, some resources include:
for individuals who develop a disability resulting from an injury that negatively impacts their ability to work, the canadian government also offers the disability tax credit. this non-refundable tax credit reduces taxable income as a financial support.
people who suffer injuries due to violence can also reach out to various organizations that are there to provide information, support, and other resources to assist them with coping with the event. they include:
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some people may also be interested in attending support groups or other mental health support to cope with the negative health outcomes that can often arise after experiencing a serious injury. easter seals canada, inclusion canada, and best buddies canada are organizations that provide programs and services to people with disabilities.
surviving a serious injury can leave a lasting mark on someone. in some cases, that means physical disabilities, and in others, it can take a toll on mental health. finding the proper support and resources and learning how to prevent injuries are excellent courses of action for keeping oneself safe from unintentional harm.
july 7 is national injury prevention day.
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