Many of us have heard the saying: “Better safe than sorry.” A recent report reminds us of the truth of that saying, and that “being sorry” can often prove fatal.

A recently released report by Parachute, a group focusing on injury prevention, examined all injuries across the country in 2010 and found that many of them were preventable. These preventable injuries included falls, drowning, transportation accidents and suicide. Not only were some of them fatal, but these injuries cost the Canadian economy a whopping $26.8 billion. Falls topped the list of preventable injuries, and cost the economy $6.7 billion annually. Suicide and transportation incidents resulted in $2.1 billion drained from the economy.

The report goes on to say, “Preventable injuries were responsible for about 43 deaths a day and were the top cause of death among Canadians aged 1 to 44, the report said. They also claimed the lives of more children than all other causes.”

The statistics are staggering. In 2010 alone, there were 15,866 deaths, 231,596 Canadians hospitalized, almost 3.5 million emergency room visits, more than 60,000 Canadians either partially or permanently disabled, and $15.9 billion in direct health-care costs. Again, many of these accidents could have been avoided.

While our lawyers are ready and available to assist you if you ever suffer an injury, we recommend taking all precautions needed to keep you and your loved ones safe and to avoid being involved in an accident. Be a defensive and vigilant driver. Adhere to workplace safety rules and regulations. Go see a doctor if you notice any changes – mental or physical – in your health. These are just a few preventative steps that may save you from needless injury.