Most people don’t think about the potential danger of a slip and fall accident but in the United States, but they commonly cause serious injuries. Slip and fall accidents can be incredibly expensive, as medical bills and lost wages put a family in a very tough financial position. Anyone can slip and fall when a property owner does not properly take care of surface hazards. The majority of slip and fall accidents are preventable; and, if a property owner has not taken due care to manage their property appropriately, you may have grounds for a lawsuit. The following facts and statistics show just how serious these accidents can be.
- Slip and falls are a leading cause of injury for ALL age groups.
Slip and fall accidents are typically more serious for older adults; however, they are a leading cause of injury for all age groups. In fact, slip and fall accidents are the most common cause of nonfatal injuries in every age group except for people between the ages 10 and 24, according to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, a division of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But even for that age group, these incidents constitute the second-most common cause of nonfatal injuries. Even if injuries are nonfatal, they send people to the emergency room.
- Over one million people each year go to an emergency room for slip and fall accidents.
Each year in the United States, over one million people need emergency medical care after a slip and fall accident. That is an average of 2,000 people each day visiting a hospital specifically for slip and fall accidents. Over eight million emergency room visits occur each year because of unintentional falls, of which 12 percent are slip and fall accidents.
- Slip and fall accidents cost between $30,000 to $40,000.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports the average hospital cost of a slip and fall accident can be more than $30,000. These costs not only devastate families financially due to medical bills, lost wages, physical therapy, and potential disability, but they also raise insurance costs.
- Medical bills for slip and fall accidents total over $34 billion annually.
Slip and fall accidents that result in injures cost the country more than $34 billion each year. Medical bills can cause a family to go bankrupt and leave them financially destroyed. On top of that, injury victims may face a lifetime of medical bills resulting from one unexpected incident.
- Victims of slip and fall accidents miss an average of 11 days at work.
Slip and fall accidents can cost businesses due to lost work productivity. A worker who is injured in a similar accident misses 11 days of work on average. If the worker is seriously injured and is unable to return to work for weeks or months, they will lose a significant amount of income while recovering and their work may not get done, leaving the business at a loss.
- Incidence of falling increases with each decade of life.
Each year in the United States, one third of adults age 65 or older will experience a fall. Slip and fall accidents are the most serious cause of injuries on the job for people over 55. The CDC reports that approximately 1.8 million adults over the age of 65 are treated each year in an emergency room because of a fall. These accidents represent the primary cause of lost days from work.
- Broken bones occur in five percent of all people who fall.
When a person falls, there is a five percent chance they will fracture or fully break a bone. 20 to 30 percent of all slip and fall accidents involve serious injuries. Fractures and broken bones can cause serious pain and suffering and will increase recovery time significantly. These types of injuries can cause emotional anguish and frustration, as the victim’s movement will be limited and recovery can take months. In these cases, the injured party may be able to recover financial compensation for their pain and suffering in addition to medical costs and other damages. Falls account for 87 percent of all fractures for adults over the age of 65.
- Falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries.
Many people associate brain injuries with team sports or car accidents, but the most common way to suffer a brain injury is falling. It is very easy to hit your head on the ground, a wall, a table, a door, or many other hard surfaces when falling. Traumatic brain injuries can be incredibly serious and may not be readily apparent. Brain injuries can have lingering effects that will not present themselves until hours or days after a fall. It is important to recognize the symptoms of a traumatic brain injury and seek medical treatment immediately upon feeling those symptoms.
- Falls are responsible for 95 percent of all hip fractures.
Hip fractures are serious injuries that often require invasive surgery. Recovery takes a long time and will often require physical therapy. Victims will have limited mobility and must be patient with their recovery. This life-altering injury can cause pain and suffering, leaving victims feeling helpless and scared.
- Very few cases go to trial.
Many victims of slip and fall accidents are hesitant to start a personal injury case because they worry about having to testify in court; however, only two percent of personal injury cases lead to a jury trial.
Corpus Christi Slip and Fall Attorneys
Given the nature of slip and fall accident claims, each individual case is unique and requires the attention and direction of an experienced slip and fall attorney like John Flood who is equipped to advocate for victims’ rights. No patron or worker should have to endure pain and suffering due to the negligence of a property owner or employer. If you or a loved one were injured in a slip and fall accident in Corpus Christi, call attorney John Flood today (361) 654-8877 for a free initial case evaluation. Contact us to find out more about how we can help.
