Slip and Fall Accidents and Statistics
When we talk about types of injury-causing accidents the ones we most commonly think about are automobile crashes, wrongful death, and medical malpractice. What you may not realize, though, is that the chances of being involved in a slip and fall accident are high as well. Most people do not realize how extensive the dangers of a slip and fall can be until they’ve already been involved in such an incident.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
One in three older adults (over the age of 65) falls each year.
About 2.5 million nonfatal falls were treated in emergency departments in 2013.
Of those, 734,000 people were admitted to the hospital.
That year, 25,500 older adults died from unintentional falls.
More than 250,000 hip fractures are reported every year, and 95 percent of those are from falls.
Each of these slip and falls pose a significant threat of injuries, including fractures, head injuries, muscle/ligament strains or tears, scarring, and more. Not only are victims faced with these serious, sometimes lifelong, injuries – they are also faced with medical bills and recovery time spent away from work. The total cost to the victim of a slip and fall incident and/or their family is much higher than you may think.
Some of the most common causes of slip and fall accidents are:
Wet floors
Stairways that are unsafe due to narrowness or broken parts
Uneven or faulty flooring
Poorly maintained public areas, such as sidewalks
Construction area falls due to unsafe practices, such as unguarded manholes
Handrails that are not tightened fully
Insufficient lighting that causes difficulties with vision
Each of these common causes of slip and fall accidents occur every day and exist in many of our daily routines. Safety code violations, local and state code violations, or otherwise faulty pathways can be extremely dangerous. In certain situations, however, an at-fault party can be held liable for these hazards. Property owners are most commonly found to be at-fault for slip and fall accidents, but it is important to hire an experienced injury attorney soon after the accident. Unfortunately, proof of fault tends to disappear quickly after injury-related accidents, so the sooner you hire an attorney to represent your best interests, the sooner an investigation can begin.
Our experienced team of New York slip and fall attorneys stand ready to fight for justice on behalf of slip and fall accident victims in the New York area. To schedule a free initial consultation with our firm, please call our office at (929) 400-7608 or email us at kourouklislaw@gmail.com.
