Slip and fall accidents are some of the most common types of injuries in the US, and one of the main reason people end up in emergency rooms. Whether at home, at work, or in public, one million slip and fall injuries send people to the ER every year in the US. They’re the leading cause of injuries for all age groups, and of brain injuries. One third of Americans over 65 will have a slip and fall, including a hip fracture, 95% of which are from falls.
Most slip-and-fall accidents are preventable and avoidable. These accidents can leave you with severe injuries such as:
- Broken/fractured bones
- Cartilage and tendon damage
- Soft tissue damage
- Lacerations
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Spinal cord injuries
- Death
Most of these accidents are caused by slick or slippery floors, but can have other causes such as torn carpeting, improper maintenance, inadequate lighting or security, and other negligence.
Work Accidents
The National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI) is a non profit organization whose mission is, “to aid in the prevention of slips, trips-and-falls through education, research, and standards development." The NFSI develops standards, as well as offers training and certifications for non-slip flooring. The NFSI B101 Committee also oversees the development of new standards for floor safety.
The NSFI reports these facts for work-related falls:
- Although falls occur in all service and manufacturing sectors, fatal falls occur primarily in construction, mining and some maintenance activities.
- Statistics from insurer ITT-Hartford’s workers compensation division indicates that falls account for 16% of all claims, and 26% of all costs, compared to 33% of costs associated with sprains and strains
- Slick floors account for 85% of employee falls
- Slip/falls that caused an employee to miss 31 days or more of work account for 22% of them.
- Falls aren’t the main cause of fatal injuries on the job, but are the primary cause of lost work days
- Slip/falls are the leading cause of workers’ compensation claims.
- Slip/falls are also the primary cause of on-the-job injuries in employees 55 and over.
- The American Trucking Association reports that falls are leading cause of compensable injury in the trucking industry
- Medical costs and compensation for from employee slip/fall injuries is approximately $70 billion (National Safety Council Injury Facts, 2003 edition)
At Home And In Public
The NFSI also offers statistics for slips and falls away from work:
- Fractures occur in 5% of people who have a slip/fall incident, and are the most serious injury from a fall.
- Slip/falls are responsible for over 1 million hospital visits every year.
- Floors and flooring materials contribute to over 2 million fall injuries every year, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
- Half of all accidental deaths that occur at home are fall-related, and happen on ground level, not an elevation
- Hip fractures are the most serious injuries from a fall, leading to the majority of health problems and many deaths.
- One of three Americans over 65 will experience a fall every year, half of which have had a fall before.
- The CDC reports that 1.8 million people over 65 went to the emergency room after a fall.
- In people over 65, falls account for 85% of fractures, and are the second leading cause of spinal cord and brain injuries.
- Half of all hip fracture hospital patients are unable to return home or live independently afterwards
- Falls represent 40% of admissions to nursing homes, and are the sixth leading cause of death in people over the age of 70.
- Over 60% of nursing home residents will have a fall in any given year.
Take Care Not To Slip or Fall
As you can see, slip and fall injures are more than just embarrassing, and more common than you may think.
Even though companies, retail stores and other establishments have a duty of care to keep their premises safe for visitors, employees, clients and others, but sometimes miss things. Paying attention to your surroundings and taking extra care around slippery floors, accidents, damaged flooring and other spots may be the difference between tripping on your feet and slipping to the floor, sustaining a serious injury.
Kansas City’s Slip And Fall Accident Law Firm
A slip and fall accident is always difficult, but you can recover for your injuries. An experienced slip-and-fall attorney can help you find the value for your claim and take appropriate action to initiate recovery. If you need help after a slip and fall accident, contact The Popham Law Firm. Call us at (816) 221-2288 today or use our contact form. We’ll schedule an appointment and talk with you about how we can help.
