While car crashes are one of the leading cause of deaths, opioid overdoses are more likely to kill you, according to a new report.

» RELATED: Five things to know about the Atlanta area’s opioid epidemic

Researchers from the National Safety Council recently conducted a study to explore the odds of dying in the United States.

To do so, they collected mortality data for 2017 from the National Center for Health Statistics. They also pulled population and life expectancy information from the U.S. Census Bureau.

After analyzing the figures, they found Americans now have a 1 in 96 chance of dying from an opioid overdose. The probability of dying from a motor vehicle accident is 1 in 103.

"The nation's opioid crisis is fueling the Council's grim probabilities, and that crisis is worsening with an influx of illicit fentanyl," the team said in a statement.

» RELATED: Georgia sues drug companies for allegedly causing opioid deaths

More than 49,000 people died due to opioid overdoses in 2017, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Overall, opioid overdoses are the the fifth leading cause of death in the country. Heart disease and cancer are still the No. 1 and No. 2 cause, respectively, followed by chronic lower respiratory disease and suicide.

However, the lifetime odds of an American dying from a preventable, accidental injury have gone up over the past 15 years. Preventable injuries caused 169,936 deaths in 2017.

“We've made significant strides in overall longevity in the United States, but we are dying from things typically called accidents at rates we haven't seen in half a century,” Ken Kolosh, manager of statistics at the National Safety Council, said in the statement. “We cannot be complacent about 466 lives lost every day. This new analysis reinforces that we must consistently prioritize safety at work, at home and on the road to prevent these dire outcomes.”

Want to learn more about the findings? Take a look at the full assessment here.

» RELATED: Study: Cancer to surpass heart disease as leading cause of death in US

About the Author

Keep Reading

Foo Fighters closed out Shaky Knees 2024 at Central Park with extended versions of their biggest hits. The indie rock festival has moved to Piedmont Park for this weekend's event. (Ryan Fleisher for the AJC)

Credit: Ryan Fleisher

Featured

In this file photo from October 2024, Atlanta Braves outfielder Jorge Soler and teammates react after losing to the San Diego Padres 5-4 in San Diego. The Braves and Soler, who now plays for the Los Angeles Angels, face a lawsuit by a fan injured at a 2021 World Series game at Truist Park in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason.Getz@ajc.com