In the United States, which typically kills more people per year on average?

The answer

Lightning is the outlier: Florida Museum figures put U.S. lightning deaths around 47 a year versus about one shark fatality. Old CPSC reports had vending-machine tip-overs around two a year, so the viral vending-vs-shark line is in the right neighborhood. It just loses once lightning is in the lineup.

Correct answer: Lightning strikes