Injury and Violence in New York State

The most recent data available shows that injuries are the leading cause of death for New Yorkers ages one through 44 years and are among the top causes of death for all other age groups. Almost 7,000 New Yorkers die every year as a result of injury. Additionally, injuries are consistently among the leading causes of hospitalization for New Yorkers of all age groups. More than 150,000 individuals are injured severely enough to require hospitalization annually. Another 1.5 million injured New Yorkers are treated and released from an emergency department each year.

Overview of New York State Injury Statistics

  • All Injuries
    This link contains statistics on all injuries regardless of intent. This includes unintentional injury, intentional injury (violence), and injuries where the intent was unknown.
  • Unintentional Injuries
    This link contains statistics on all unintentional injuries. Unintentional injuries include topics such as choking, motor vehicle traffic injuries, fall injuries and poisoning.
  • Homicide and Assault Injuries
    This link contains statistics on homicide and assault related injuries.
  • Suicide and Self Inflicted Injuries
    This link contains statistics on suicide and self inflicted injuries.
  • Undetermined Injuries
    This link contains statistics on injuries where the intent of injury is unknown.

Injury Prevention Statistics for New York State

Data surveillance is a fundamental tool in injury prevention. Data surveillance systems are used to identify at-risk populations, predict patterns, and recognize risk factors. The two main injury data surveillance systems used in New York State are the Vital Statistics Death Files and the Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (SPARCS). Through the Vital Statistics Death Files, the BIP can track all deaths due to injury. SPARCS can be used to track all hospitalizations and emergency department visits due to injury. Both of these surveillance systems include data variables used to describe patient demographics and the underlying causes and outcomes of the injury.

The rate of injury related deaths in New York State has remained fairly consistent, with a high of 40.3 deaths per 100,000 New Yorkers in 1995 and a low of 33.8 deaths per 100,000 New Yorkers in 1998 and 2000. In 2006 there were 36.4 injury deaths per 100,000.

Specifically for injury related deaths of NYS residents:

  • Unintentional injury death rates increased from 20.8 per 100,000 residents in 2000 to 22.9 in 2006
  • Homicide rates decreased from 5.2 per 100,000 residents in 2000 to 4.9 in 2006
  • Suicide rates did not change from 2000 to 2006 (6.7 per 100,000 residents)
  • Motor vehicle related injury death rates did not change from 2000 to 2006 (7.7 per 100,000 residents)
    • Motor vehicle related injury deaths rates to occupants decreased from 2.8 per 100,000 residents in 2000 to 2.5 in 2006
    • Motorcyclist injury death rates increased from 0.6 per 100,000 residents in 2000 to 1.0 in 2006
    • Motor vehicle related injury deaths to pedestrians decreased from 1.8 per 100,000 residents in 2000 to 1.6 in 2006
    • Motor vehicle related injury to bicyclists increased from 0.1 per 100,000 residents in 2000 to 0.2 in 2006

The rate of hospitalizations due to injury has also remained fairly consistent, with a high of 811.4 hospitalizations per 100,000 New Yorkers in 2006 and a low of 684.0 hospitalizations per 100,000 New Yorkers in 1999.

Specifically for injury related hospitalizations of NYS residents:

  • Unintentional injury hospitalization rates increased from 610.7 per 100,000 residents in 2000 to 688.4 in 2006
  • Assault hospitalization rates increased from 46.6 per 100,000 residents in 2000 to 50.9 in 2006
  • Self Inflicted hospitalization rates increased from 43.0 per 100,000 residents in 2000 to 50.1 in 2006
  • Motor vehicle related injury hospitalization decreased from 85.1 per 100,000 residents in 2000 to 78.9 in 2006
    • Motor vehicle related injury hospitalization rates to occupants decreased from 51.6 per 100,000 residents in 2000 to 45.3 in 2006
    • Motorcyclist injury hospitalization rates increased from 6.5 per 100,000 residents in 2000 to 8.2 in 2006
    • Motor vehicle related injury deaths to pedestrians decreased from 19.5 per 100,000 residents in 2000 to 18.3 in 2006
    • Motor vehicle related injury to bicyclists did not change from 2000 to 2006 (3.3 per 100,000 residents)

Emergency Department data has only been collected since 2005. The rates of ED visits due to injury per 100,000 residents were 7,396.1 and 7,509.8 for years 2005 and 2006, respectively.

For Direct Inquiries Contact:

  • New York State Department of Health
    Bureau of Injury Prevention
    Riverview Center
    150 Broadway, 3rd Floor West
    Albany, New York 12204-0677
    PHONE: (518) 473-1143
    FAX: (518) 474-3067
    E-MAIL: injury@health.state.ny.us