In our last blog, we discussed income protection insurance – what it is, how it works, and why some people choose to purchase it. We even presented a little hypothetical sketch to illustrate the fact that no one plans on getting sick or injured and why being prepared is a safer bet than relying on lady luck to shepherd you through the trials and tribulations of life unscathed.
In that hypothetical, our prospective insurance customer dropped into his insurance broker in anticipation of a hamstring injury he was planning to sustain the following week. The injury, he predicted with eerie prescience, would occur during footy training, and he was even able to say which leg it would affect. What are the odds?
That got us thinking: What actually are the odds? In this blog, we take a look at some of the most common injuries in Australia and how they can affect you.
Sporting Injuries
In recognition of our hypothetical customer’s hamstring, let’s start with sport. Australians have earned a reputation as hardcore sports fanatics, but all that enthusiastic physical activity is not without its risks. From 2016-2017, close to 60,000 Australians sustained a sporting injury requiring a hospital stay. Of those injuries, 38% occurred while playing football of one kind or another, like AFL, rugby, and soccer.
Transportation Injuries
This is by far the greatest cause of traumatic brain (TBI) injury in Australia. A whopping 52% of all TBI injuries are caused by transportation accidents. Even if you yourself don’t own or drive a car, there is no avoiding the risks of motor transport. And given that two thirds of Australians drive a car to work, the risks are very real.
Some General Statistics
Luckily for you, we don’t have the time to go into great detail over every type and cause of injury, so we’ve assembled some of the most pertinent statistics.
- 1 in 5 injuries involve the head and neck
- For injuries requiring hospitalization, 1 in 6 are classified as high threat to life, and 1 in 59 require time in intensive care averaging 82 hours per case
- Each day there are 4 new moderate TBIs and 19 new severe TBIs
- From 2014-2015, there was a total of 483,673 injuries in Australia, or 1,325 per day
- Around half of those who were working prior to a spinal cord injury will never return to work
So, what are the odds? Unfortunately, they’re not as low as you might think.
What Does This Mean for Insurance?
Last blog’s topic was income protection insurance. Just in case you weren’t taking notes, income protection insurance covers you for up to 85% of your income if an injury or illness renders you temporarily unable to return to work. Other kinds of insurance that can cover you in the event of an injury include total and permanent disability insurance, trauma insurance, and life insurance. All of these types of insurance cover you for slightly different things, and for those who don’t speak fluent insurance, choosing the right policy can be overwhelming.
At Tony Insurance, that’s what we’re here for. We take care of the fine print and give you the information that will help you make the choice that’s right for you.
Contact Tony Today
When you contact us, you know you’re getting the right information, not the hard sell. Call Tony on 0433 22 77 11 or book an appointment through our website.
Think Insurance, Think Tony.
