Recognizing the Danger of Slip and Falls During National Safety Month
June is National Safety month, sponsored by the National Safety Council. The month is devoted to alerting the public to safety issues, with a new issue highlighted each week. This week, the focus was on preventing slip and falls and trip and falls.
According to the National Safety Council, more than 8.6 million people are significantly injured in falls each year. Injuries span from bruises and broken bones to severe spinal cord injury, brain injury and even death. Slip-and-fall accidents / trip-and-fall accidents can happen anywhere: at a grocery store, on a construction site, at water parks, on a public sidewalk, on someone’s private property, and elsewhere.
Elderly Victims of Slip and Falls
Individuals over age 65 are not only more prone to falls, but also more likely to be killed or injured by a slip and fall or trip and fall. In fact, falls kill four times as many individuals over 65 as any other age group. Those who survive a slip and fall are often permanently injured.
While individuals over 65 can take steps to minimize slip and falls (such as taking calcium and vitamin D supplements to increase bone and muscle strength, exercising regularly and ensuring that their shoes are adequate for walking), many slip-and-fall accidents are caused by others’ negligence.
Premises Liability Claims for Slip-and-Fall Accidents
When negligence is at play, the injured individual can bring a premises liability claim against the property owner. Types of negligence include:
- Poorly lit areas
- Uneven sidewalks
- Uncovered manholes and other unexpected holes in the ground
- Water/liquid on floors (not marked with warning signs)
- Icy walkways
- Stair hazards
If you or a loved one has been injured in a slip-and-fall accident, contact an experienced premises liability lawyer to learn whether you can bring a claim.
