The leading cause of unintentional injuries among adults and older adults is falls. Falls are of particular concern for older adults, as the rate of fall-related hospitalization increases with age. More seniors receive acute medical care for a fall than due to all other mechanisms of injury combined.

Other leading causes of unintentional injury include: being struck by or caught between an object/person, events related to the natural environment, being cut or pierced, suffocation, transportation events, and unintentional poisoning.

The home, the workplace, and in transit are all common settings for injuries to occur.