Common Slip and Fall Injuries

Almost all industries and jobs have a slip and fall accidents, which can cause life-threatening injuries. Recent reports published by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) show 15 percent of all deaths account for accidental slips and falls due to inadequate standards adopted by employers and home builders. Both falls from the same level and falls to lower levels led to major disruption to work and reduced productivity for many employers.

Leading Causes of Slips and Falls

More than a million Americans get injured on a yearly basis due to a slip or fall. A slip or fall can occur anywhere due to wet floors, damaged stairs, debris left near the walkways, uneven carpeting and floors. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 65 percent of all slip or falls occur on same-level walking surfaces, while the chances of injuries at the retail and wholesale industry is at the highest standing of 60 percent. Elevated falls on the hand can cause severe injuries and is more common in the construction industry where employees work at an elevated height. An estimated 20 percent of all job injuries are caused due to slips and falls.

Known Injuries

Slip and falls can happen anywhere, especially in medical institutions and nursing homes where there is a high number of elderly in need of care. Slips and falls are also the leading cause of injury in hospitals, especially for recovering patients. Broken hip and bones, fractures, joint and shoulder dislocation, as well as various long-term medical complications such as spinal cord injury and long-term disabilities are associated with falls. In most cases, medical bills can rise to as high as $40,000 per incident.

Avoiding Injuries and Claims

The Premises Liability Act provides guidance on claims and how they can be sought when a slip or fall occurs due to owner negligence. Only those lawfully invited by the owner can be compensated if an injury due to negligence occurs. Trespassers and bystanders are usually not covered under the act, making it more difficult for them to recover medical costs. Hence, seeking a competent personal injury attorney can help process timely claims and recover medical bills for severe and unintended injuries.

If you wish to learn more about personal injuries due to slips and falls or if you would like to have more information on your settlement claims, feel free to schedule a consultation. Contact I Am Calling My Lawyer at (312) 621-6114 to talk to an experienced personal injury lawyer.