Slip-and-Fall Injuries are the #1 Cause of Hospital Visits
Posted Friday, June 11, 2021 by Chris Thayer
Slip-and-fall injuries are not always taken seriously. There is a sense that these types of accidents are embarrassing, leading people to feel like they need to walk them off or downplay their severity. However, slip-and-fall accidents should not be taken lightly. In fact, they cause over 8 million people to seek emergency treatment at hospitals each year. Slip-and-fall accidents can have fatal consequences, particularly for the elderly. However, across all age groups half of all accidental deaths at home are caused by falls. Additionally, slips and falls are the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries, which can easily prove fatal.
*Slip-and-Fall Accidents and Traumatic Brain Injuries *Traumatic brain injuries can result in a lack of consciousness and long-term physical and mental consequences, including anxiety, depression, vertigo, migraines, and memory loss. Physically, traumatic brain injuries can result in trauma to the brain that can affect cognitive functioning. It is not uncommon for a traumatic brain injury to result in unconsciousness. This can become life-threatening, particularly if it occurs near a pool or body of water, increasing the likelihood of accidental drowning. This becomes an even more important consideration during the summer when slippery pool surfaces are often left untended.
*Slip-and-Falls Injuries at Work *Slips and falls are the #1 cause of workers’ compensation claims in the United States. This means that slip and fall accidents are also the #1 cause of days missed from work, costing companies across the country more than any other form of accident or injury. Interestingly, most slip and fall accidents resulting in a claim do not involve a fall from a higher level. Rather, they occurred on the same level (i.e. a slip on the floor vs. a fall from a ladder). This really emphasizes the importance of keeping floors and surfaces clean, free of slips and hazards, and providing traction (such as carpets) when appropriate. According to the CDC, floors and flooring materials contribute to causing over 2 million slips and falls each year.
*Slip and Fall Injuries *Slips and falls can cause a wide range of injuries from sprains, bruising, and broken bones, to fractures, herniated disks, and traumatic brain injuries. About 5% of people who experience a slip or fall accident suffer a fracture, which is considered a serious injury. Of all fractures, hip fractures are the most serious, and are experienced at the highest rates among the elderly. Slip and fall accidents are the second leading cause of death among individuals 65 years of age and older, and this is largely due to hip fractures. More than 15,000 people over the age of 65 die as a result of falls each year, and that number continues to increase. In fact, statistics reflect that each year one out of every three elderly adults will experience a slip or fall accident and 1.8 million are treated in the emergency room each year as a result.
*Talk to Pivotal Law Group*If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a slip or fall accident in Seattle, Bellevue, Kent, Renton, Burien, Mercer Island, Issaquah, or the greater Washington State area, the experienced personal injury lawyers at Pivotal Law Group want to help you get the compensation to which you are entitled. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.