Slip and Falls

According to a report from the National Safety Council, slip and fall accidents are one of the most prevalent causes of unintentional injuries in the United States. As of 2011, nearly 9 million visits were made to emergency rooms in America to treat injuries from a slip and fall accident. These incidents are the leading cause of accidental death in America’s homes and communities. In the year 2009 alone, over 25,000 people died from injuries they acquired during a slip and fall accident. The risk of falling increases with age, and those Americans over the age of 55 are more prone to suffer such injuries. Those who are past this age are more likely to suffer debilitating injury from a fall. The number of deaths by injuries from a slip and fall accident among those who are 65 or older is 4 times the national total for all age groups.

Slip and Fall Statistics

Here are a few more statistics for slip and fall accidents from the National Floor Safety Institute:

  1. The number of fatalities from slip and fall accidents is almost the same for men and women, with the number of women being slightly larger. Women are less likely to die from a fall on the job, however, with only 5% of job related fatalities of women being caused by falls as opposed to 11% for men.
  2. Although slip and fall accidents are not high on the list of causes of death at the workplace, they are the primary cause of missed days from work.
  3. For those between the ages of 15 to 24, slip and fall accidents are the leading cause of worker’s compensation claims and the leading cause of work-related injury.
  4. For those who lost time at work due to a slip and fall, it was an average of 31 days before 22% of them could return.
  5. Approximately 50% of all accidental deaths inside the home are from slip and fall accidents.
  6. Among the elderly, hip fractures are the most serious fractures obtained during slip and fall accidents, and lead to more death and health issues.
  7. One out of every 3 people over the age of 65 will slip and fall each year, and half of them will have fallen before.
  8. Among those who are between 65 and 84 years of age, slip and fall accidents are the second leading cause of death. Past the age of 84, they are the leading cause of death.
  9. Half of all people over the age of 65 who slip and fall will never be able to return home or live independently.
  10. Around 40% of all nursing home admissions are due to a slip and fall.
  11. Over 60% of those in nursing homes will slip and fall each year.
  12. Disabling injuries due to a slip and fall accident cost over $300,000 annually.
  13. The total cost of all slip and fall injuries on the US per year is over $13 million.
  14. Slip and falls are the leading cause of injury among truck drivers.

What to do if you or a loved one has been injured in a Slip and Fall Accident

With those statistics, it is no surprise that most of us have a family member or loved one who has suffered injuries that were sustained during a fall. In some cases, that fall may have caused death. In others, lost time from work can be devastating. Rehabilitation and even admittance into a hospital or nursing hoe can cause unexpected bills to arise. If you or someone you know has suffered injuries from a slip and fall accident, you will need to call a personal injury attorney to help you determine whether you should file a personal injury lawsuit.