If you have ever accidentally tripped or slipped and fallen, you might have gotten right up, shook it off and looked around really quick to see if someone was watching. In a best case scenario, hopefully all that was injured was your pride. However, not all slip and fall accidents are that simple.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over one million Americans experience an injury from a slip, trip, or fall each year that requires a trip to the emergency room. And sadly, over 33,381 people die from unintentional falls each year. Here are some facts that Lerner and Rowe’s personal injury lawyer in Yuma thinks you should know about slips and falls.
Same-Level Falls are the Common Type of Falls
The CDC separates falls into two basic categories: same-level falls and elevated falls. Out of the two, same-level falls are the most common and refer to falls that involve slips and trips. Consider these facts about slips, trips, and falls:
- 20% to 30% of people who slip and fall experience moderate to severe injuries, including bruising, head injuries, or hip fractures.
- 5% of injuries in falls are bone fractures
- The most common bone fractures that occur from a slip and fall are fractures to the:
- Hand
- Forearm
- Upper arm
- Spine
- Pelvis
- Hip
- Leg
- Ankle
- Hip fractures are the most serious fractures from a fall and are responsible for serious health problems and more deaths from falls.
Most slip and falls happen on a slippery surface and occur in two ways:
- The person’s front foot slips forward and causes him or her to fall backward.
- The person’s rear foot slips backward and causes him or her to fall forward.
Other serious injuries can occur from a slip and fall accident like:
- Head trauma
- Spinal cord injuries
- Prolonged incapacitation
- Long-term medical problems
Older Americans Are Most at Risk from Falls
Older Americans are especially at risk for slips and falls and account for the largest part of the American populated affected by injuries from this type of accident. Injuries from slips and falls are often most severe in the elderly and are more likely to inhibit their mobility and threaten their ability to live independently.
The CDC and the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI) states that:
- One in three elderly adults over the 65 will experience a fall each year with half being repeat fallers.
- The likelihood of falling increases with each decade of life.
- 87% of all fractures among the elderly are from falls.
- 46% of slip and fall accidents result in traumatic brain injuries that lead to death among older Americans.
- 1,800 older Americans die each year of injuries from slips and falls in nursing homes and is the 6th leading cause of death among the elderly.
- Nursing home residents account for 20% of deaths caused by falls among the elderly population.
Get the Best Personal Injury Lawyer in Yuma
Slips and trips might seem funny on television to some, but in real life, they have serious consequences. If you or a loved one is injured in one of the slip & fall accidents in Yuma due to someone else’s negligence, you have rights. At Lerner & Rowe Injury Attorneys, you are not a statistic. When you contact us, you are getting Arizona’s best injury attorneys. Call 928-222-2222 to schedule your free consultation with one of our Yuma personal injury lawyers. You can also get in touch with us via our LiveChat feature. We are always available to take your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The information on this blog is for general information purposes only. Nothing herein should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.