Slip and fall injuries are among the most common injuries in the United States, accounting for more than 8 million emergency room visits each year and more missed days of work than any other workplace injury. Slip and fall incidents are also the leading cause of workers’ compensation claims in the United States.
Slip and fall injuries are also a serious concern for elderly individuals. Adults over the age of 55 are at the highest risk of suffering life-threatening or fatal falling injuries; falls are the leading cause of work-related injuries for people over 55. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate about 15,000 individuals over the age of 65 die from fall-related injuries every year. Each year on average, one out of every three Americans over the age of 65 suffers a fall.

Causes and Damages

The National Floor Safety Institute reports flooring and floor materials directly contribute to more than 2 million of the reported falls in the United States each year. Inferior quality floor materials and improperly installed flooring can pose serious risks to passersby. Other causes of slip and fall accidents include:

  • Potentially dangerous work environments, such as scaffolds, elevated platforms, and similar structures.
  • Poor lighting.
  • Cluttered walkways. Property owners should take care to remove debris and items out of walking paths and stairwells to prevent injuries.
  • Falling out of bed. Elderly individuals may suffer falls trying to get out of bed; this is an extremely common occurrence in nursing homes.
  • Snow and ice accumulation in winter weather.
  • Unmarked wet or slippery floors, and liquid spills that create slipping hazards.

Most people have slipped on an icy patch or uneven sidewalk and suffered slight injuries such as bruises or twisted ankles. While these are minor injuries, some slip and fall incidents lead to more grievous wounds. Slip and fall incidents can cause broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal damage, facial injuries, and more. It’s important for anyone injured in a serious slip and fall accident to know their legal options and rights.

Suing for a Slip and Fall

Generally, slip and fall injury cases will come under the purview of personal injury law or premises liability law. If an employer knows about a slip and fall hazard on their property but takes no action to address the issue before it causes injuries, the resulting lawsuit would likely fall under personal injury law. Under premises liability laws, property owners must ensure their properties are free from hazards that could injure lawful visitors to the property.
Slip and fall cases may sound straightforward at first, but there are countless possible issues that can complicate a slip and fall lawsuit. If you or a loved one has recently suffered serious injuries and other damages as the result of a slip and fall accident in the Roswell, GA, area, reach out to the team at Kaufman Law, P.C. today. We offer free case evaluations to new clients and can meet with you whenever and wherever is most convenient for you. We’ll review the details of your case and let you know what type of compensation to expect from a lawsuit

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