One in four (26%) UK adults live in fear of having an accident, a figure that rises to 31% among women and 34% among young people aged 18-34, new research from National Friendly shows.
Thinking about their personal safety and the likelihood of having an accident day to day, 51% also consider themselves to be ‘risk-averse’. Brits expect to have an average of six accidents in a lifetime, but 14% think they may have nine or more. Optimistically 13% of British adults don’t think they will ever have an accident during their whole lifetime.
Fears of permanent disability and financial impacts of an accident
The society found that almost half (46%) of British adults who are fearful cite worries about their recovery if they had an accident, and a third (34%) fear a permanent disability that could impact their future career or earnings, rising to 41% of adults under 35. In fact, the study did find that over one in seven (15%) British adults who experienced an accident in the past three years now live with a long-term disability or health condition as a result, rising to 23% of under-35s.
Furthermore, almost a third (29%) fear not being able to work or risk losing their income or job if they have an accident (36% of adults under 35). National Friendly has also reported that over half (57%) of workers who’ve had an accident in the last three years had to take unplanned time off, climbing to almost three-quarters (71%) of those under-35.
Worries about the NHS’ ability to provide care
Concerns extend beyond the workplace, with 1 in 3 (33%) of adults worried about the NHS’ ability to provide care if needed and just under 1 in every 4 fearing they wouldn’t be able to support their families.
National Friendly found that over a fifth (22%) of adults had at least one accident in the last year, increasing to 32% of under-35s, and over the last three years, nearly a third (29%) of adults experienced an accident, with the frequency higher among younger people (37% of under-35s).
“Our research paints a sobering picture of a nation anxious about the potential fallout from everyday accidents", says Graham Singleton, CEO of National Friendly. "Young people, in particular, are disproportionately affected, not only in terms of the frequency of accidents but also the long-term consequences. These findings underscore the importance of affordable, accessible income protection products, which offer peace of mind and financial security. At National Friendly, we’re committed to addressing this gap by providing flexible, inclusive policies that make a real difference when life takes an unexpected turn.”
Ben Mason, protection manager at Lightblue Online, addedd: "These findings highlight the real financial risks that come with unexpected accidents—especially for younger clients who may not have built up financial resilience. Many people assume they’ll be fine, but the reality is that time off work, lost income, and NHS pressures can have a serious impact. Income protection products provide a straightforward, accessible way for clients to safeguard their financial stability, giving them peace of mind that they’ll have support if the unexpected happens."
