When hearing about personal injury cases, most people often first think about injuries caused by automobile collisions. Most people think they would never need to engage an attorney over a slip and fall or trip and fall. However, one of the leading causes of emergency room visits each year are slip and fall accidents. Patients may or may not go to trial with your auto accident injury claim. This is a mistake you want to avoid because consulting an attorney to reclaim compensation money will be very helpful for any future needs. The National Floor Safety Institute’s studies reveal that there are approximately eight million emergency room visits per year in the United States, a quarter of which occur because of slip or trip and fall issues. And one third of all United States citizens 65 and older will be involved in a fall every year. Additionally, the Bureau of Labor Statistics states that an average of eleven days is missed from work due to a slip or trip and fall injury. This can happen at workplaces or because of exhausting work. The Bollinger Law Firm, P.C. in Charlotte takes up such cases and help the victim get compensated.
So what are the leading causes of slips, trips and falls? Slips can occur when floors or other surfaces become slippery when wet or oily. This could be caused by floor cleaning, leaks, inclement weather such as rain, or from materials and debris left in walkways. Trips often occur due to uneven floor or surfaces. This may include uneven sidewalks, protruding nails and boards, bunched floor mats or uneven carpeting, holes or depressions in surfaces, and also step-risers or stairs that are not uniform in height. Both slips and trips can result in falls, which can also occur when stairways and elevated surfaces are not designed properly. For drunk driving case lawyers, people can check here and get the best information here!
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, there are two types of falls: elevated falls and same-level falls. 65% of fall-related injuries occur as a result of falls from same-level walking surfaces. However, elevated falls are often the most serious and cause more severe injuries. These elevated falls (over 60%) typically are from a height of less than ten feet.
What are the types of injuries that result from a slip or trip and fall? Slips, trips, and falls can cause significant injury or even death. The most common fractures that occur are fractures of the spine, hip, forearm, leg, ankle, pelvis, upper arm, and/or hand. Further, slip or trip and fall accidents are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries (TBI). The CDC estimates that between 20 – 30% of people who experience a slip or trip and fall will suffer moderate to severe injuries such as those listed above.
Approximately 19,565 people die in the U.S. annually due to injuries caused by unintentional falls. That is a HUGE number! This number is approximately 15% of all accidental deaths, which makes slip or trip and falls second in that category (as you may have guessed, motor vehicles collisions is first). Further, approximately 50% of all accidental home deaths are caused by falls each year. 46% of fatal falls among older Americans result from the traumatic brain injury received in the fall. According to lawyers from Bengal Law web site, these statistics can be scary, it is understandable that people want to prevent these slip or trip and falls.
However, just because someone trips on a sidewalk maintained by a city or slips in a retail store, it does not mean the city or retail store had liability for the injuries. In order to collect, you will need to prove that the city or retail store either 1) created the problem – such as when a tripping hazard is left in a walkway, or 2) knew or should have known about the problem – had anyone provided them prior notice of the uneven sidewalk or puddle in the store OR should an employee or agent have inspected the area.
If you have questions about whether your slip or trip and fall could be a successful personal injury claim, or for more information about personal injury in general, please call The Carroll Law Firm, PLC for your free personal injury consultation at (623) 551-9366.
