Slip and Fall Accidents
Accidental slips, trips, and falls are one of the leading causes of accidental injury and death for Florida residents. The risk is particularly acute among seniors, because of their physical frailties. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), every year roughly one out of every three Americans will suffer some type of fall, with nearly 30 percent of those resulting in severe to moderate injury. All told the cost of medical bills as a result of preventable falls among seniors alone is $30 billion each year. This does not even account for the myriad of other costs associated with these accidents.
Needless to say, fall accidents must be taken seriously. As a legal matter, when the fall occurs on another’s property, the victim may have legal rights to receive compensation to help in their recovery. For support on these matters in Miami and nearby Florida communities, please contact our lawyers today.
Legal Liability
Sometimes slip and fall injuries are the fault of another–often the owners of dangerous locations. Property owners owe a duty of care to other persons on their premises. These duties include:
- The duty to use care in maintaining the property in a reasonably safe condition; and
- The duty to warn of dangers of which the owner has knowledge, but which are unknown to visitors or cannot be reasonably discovered.
If an individual is injured in a slip and fall accident on someone else’s premises, they may be able to recover compensation with the help of an experienced attorney.
Slip and Fall Injuries
Slip and fall accidents may lead to a host of devastating yet preventable injuries. These injuries may include:
- Traumatic brain injuries;
- Lacerations;
- Hip fractures;
- Broken bones;
- Back and spine injuries; and
- Death.
According to the CDC, slip and falls lead to approximately 8.9 million visits to the emergency room every year, and approximately 25,000 people a day are victims of slip and fall accidents. It is estimated that every year 17,000 people die from a slip and fall accident.
Where Slip and Fall Accidents Occur
The Workplace
About 15 percent of all work-related injuries are made up of slip and falls. In 2012, there were 219,630 nonfatal slip and fall accidents in workplaces. In 2012, 668 people experienced a fatal workplace fall, slip or trip, and 65 percent of all lost workdays are due to slip and fall accidents, resulting in 95 million lost workdays per year. Compensation and medical costs associated with employee slip and fall accidents average about $70 billion annually.
Restaurants
Roughly 57 percent of all food service general liability insurance claims are due to slip and fall accidents. The average restaurant has approximately three to nine slip and fall accidents each year. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, slip and falls are the number one cause of accidents in hotels, restaurants, and public buildings
Supermarkets and Grocery Stores
In the United States, the Grocery Store Industry spends $450 million annually to defend slip and fall claims. These accidents in supermarkets are the number one cause of both employee and guest injuries.
Contact an Attorney
Whether you or a loved one has been injured at home, in the workplace, at a retail store, restaurant, or elsewhere, our attorneys can help determine whether you may be able to recover damages or monetary compensation for your injuries. These damages may include medical bills, loss of wages, and pain and suffering. If you or someone you know has been injured in a slip and fall accident, it is important to speak to an experienced injury attorney to determine your rights. Contact our team at Kaire & Heffernan, LLC today for tailored guidance.
