Most cases of bankruptcy aren’t caused by reckless spending but by financial hardship, and many are lower-income individuals who simply can’t afford to deal with unexpected major expenses such as job loss or medical bills. Peaks in bankruptcy petitions typically signify economic downturn; and states with fewer consumer-friendly laws typically see the most filings. These are among the patterns revealed by recent U.S. bankruptcy filings. According to a study published in early 2005, 46 percent of bankruptcies were related to outstanding medical conditions. To find out more this infographic provides great information on the average age of someone filing for bankruptcy and other common causes for bankruptcy besides medical bills.