Injury Awareness Week 2023 reveals impact of avoidable injuries

This year, an estimated 1.6 million people in the UK say they have become a victim of negligence according to new YouGov research, commissioned by APIL.

This means that 30,000 people fall ill or are injured each week.

APIL wants to shine a light on the impact these injuries can have on people who were doing nothing more than living their lives before they fell victim to the recklessness or carelessness of others.

Of those UK adults who have ever become ill or been injured because of someone else’s negligence:

• A quarter (25 per cent) had to give up work for a period of time.
• Over a quarter (26 per cent) say that their mental health deteriorated.
• More than one in five (21 per cent) could no longer pursue their interests or hobbies.
• 15 per cent said that their relationships with friends or family suffered.
• Just under one in ten (nine per cent) had to give up work permanently.
• 13 per cent had to reduce their hours at work because of the negligence.

Highlighting the difference between an accident and negligence is also a key theme this year. The fact that the harm has been caused by negligence is significant. An accident could not have been foreseen, but negligence could and should be avoided.

Read the latest blog on the important distinction between an accident and negligence here.

Keep an eye on APIL’s Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn channels as well as the dedicated Injury Awareness Week Facebook page for lots of exciting content. We will need lots of support to get these important messages to the wider public, so please make sure you share content to your own followers.