Final answer:
The leading causes of accidental death in the U.S. have shifted from motor vehicle accidents to poisonings due to drug overdoses, with falls leading to head injuries as another significant cause. Lung cancer is the deadliest form of cancer, with smoking being a major contributor, and drowning is a major concern for child safety. Workplace fatalities also note murder as a prominent cause of death for women.
Step-by-step explanation:
The leading causes of accidental death in the United States have shifted over the years. Historically, motor vehicle accidents have been a significant source of fatalities, but by 2014, poisonings, mainly due to drug overdoses from substances such as heroin and opioid painkillers, outnumbered deaths from car crashes. Additionally, falls are also a major cause of accidental death, particularly resulting in head injuries and traumatic brain injuries, which are the leading cause of injury-related deaths in the U.S.
Other notable causes of accidental death include suffocation and drowning, especially in children aged 12 years and younger. Cancer also remains one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Behavior-related factors such as smoking tobacco contribute significantly to cancer mortality rates, with lung cancer causing more deaths than any other cancer. Accidental drowning is another leading cause of death, particularly in young children.