HOW COMMON ARE SLIP, TRIP, AND FALL ACCIDENTS?
Slip, trip, and fall accidents are more common and often more serious than most people realize, and are especially dangerous for older people. Here are some facts that may surprise you:
- Slip and fall accidents send nearly nine million people to the emergency room each year.
- Falls cause brain damage, spinal cord injuries, serious fractures, organ damage, neck and back injuries, lacerations, scarring, sprains and strains, chronic pain, and death.
- Falls are the second leading cause of death in the home and in senior citizen communities.
- Falls cause around 25,000 fatalities every year, according to the National Safety Council (NSC).
- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that around 8,000,000 non-fatal fall injuries occur in the United States annually.
- CDC data show that falls are the number one cause of traumatic brain injury (TBI).
- More than 95 percent of hip fractures are caused by falls.
- Falls are the second most common cause of death on the job, after motor vehicle accidents.
- Workplace slip and fall accidents cause more than 300,000 injuries per year, or one every two minutes, on average.
- Traumatic brain injuries from falls are responsible for almost half of all fall-related fatalities among the elderly.
- Uneven and hazardous public walkways are the cause of nearly half of all slip, trip, and fall injuries.
CONDITIONS THAT CAUSE FALLS
Falls happen frequently on walkways, driveways, ramps, stairs, ladders, in messy, cluttered areas, wet and slippery floors and pavement, and on uneven surfaces. Merchandise that has fallen from poorly-stacked shelves and spilled food in the aisles can also cause falls, and construction and other job sites are also common places for falls to occur.
Property owners can prevent falls on their premises by:
- Keeping electrical cords away from areas where people walk
- Cleaning spills and immediately
- Placing barriers and warning signs around wet, slippery, or uneven areas or anywhere a tripping or slipping hazard exists
- Keeping stairways well-lighted and in good repair
- Filling in potholes and repairing uneven surfaces in parking lots and sidewalks
- Keeping sprinkler heads far from walkways
Failing to take these precautions can result in liability for injuries or wrongful deaths that result.
STEPS TO TAKE AFTER A FALL
There are steps you can take to help secure your right to recover compensation for your damages after a fall on someone else’s premises, which will help your premises liability attorney prove your case and obtain a full and adequate recovery for you:
- Call for help and report the incident to the owner or manager of the property immediately.
- Write down the name of the property owner or manager and the person to whom you reported the accident.
- Note the exact time of your fall.
- Get contact information for anyone who witnessed the accident.
- Take photos with your cell phone camera, showing the condition that caused you to fall.
- Get medical help immediately. If necessary, have someone call an ambulance. Tell the doctor and ER personnel where you fell and how the fall occurred.
- Save your clothing or footwear worn at the time of the accident, without cleaning it.
- Contact a well experienced San Luis Obispo personal injury lawyer who specializes in premises liability cases.
- Do not give a recorded statement to an insurance adjuster or company representative and do not sign any medical authorizations, releases, or other documents unless your attorney instructs you to do so.
FREE CONSULTATION
Slip, trip, and fall accidents are often frightening and have the potential to cause serious disruption in your life. You need all the support you can get at this difficult time; you will find it at the law offices of attorney Jude Basile in San Luis Obispo. If you or a member of your family has sustained a serious injury from a fall caused by someone else’s negligence in Santa Barbara, Monterey or San Luis Obispo, contact the Basile Law Firm to arrange a time to tell us what happened and learn about the options available to you. Jude Basile has been helping accident victims recover money for their injuries since 1985. He has earned the highest possible ratings from both his clients and his peers in the legal community, and is widely respected for his skill, knowledge, and passion for justice. With nearly three decades of experience representing clients in all kinds of personal injury cases, Jude is a top choice for legal representation in the area surrounding San Luis Obispo, Monterey, and Santa Barbara.
Your initial consultation is free, and you pay absolutely nothing until your case is resolved and you receive a check for your damages. In the highly unlikely case there is no recovery, you pay nothing. California law limits the time you have in which to file your claim, so don’t wait; call today.
