Everything You Need To Know About Slip and Fall Accidents

Everything You Need To Know About Slip and Fall Accidents

The picture of Charlie Chaplin, who slips on a banana skin and falls on his butt, became a comedy classic. But in real life, slip and fall accidents are not to be laughed about. They’re one of the most common causes of severe injuries among people.

Still, many people underestimate this type of accident, which is the wrong thing to do. Why? Because it can happen to you anywhere and anytime.

You take a wrong step while going down the stairs, and the next thing you know is that you’re lying on the floor with a broken arm or leg. But, remember that not in all cases the business is liable for slip and fall accidents.

Below you’ll find a list of statistics and facts showing why you should never deprecate slip and fall accidents.

Facts and Statistics

Let’s begin with the statistics. Slip and fall accidents may be more common than you think, and some of these facts may even surprise you.

Do you know how many people in the U.S. land on E.R. after fall accidents every year? The correct answer is more than 8 million. According to the National Flooring Safety Institute, 12 percent of these accidents are slip and falls.

That’s more or less 2,000 people injuring themselves after slipping and falling every day. That puts things into perspective, doesn’t it?

Moreover, 20 percent of slip and fall accidents cause serious injuries. The most common are bone fractures, but the list is much longer with spinal cord injuries, sprains, and severe brain damages included as well.

These types of accidents can be fatal too. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), more than 17,000 U.S. citizens die every year due to slip and fall accidents.

People who are most vulnerable to slip and fall accidents are the elderly, who aren’t able to recover from them in most cases. The risk of falling increases with every ten years of your life, as you gradually lose your mobility and vision.

These few examples of statistics perfectly illustrate how severe slip and fall accidents are. Still, many people don’t think about them that way until something happens to them or someone from their family.

That’s why it’s essential to pay attention to any warning signs and surroundings. Also, watch your step when you’re walking. Don’t rush if you don’t have to, and don’t look on your phone while walking outside.

Now that you know how many accidents happen every year and how severe injuries they can cause, it’s time to learn a bit more about some legal facts.

First of all, keep in mind that it’s your responsibility to gain all the necessary proof to get your compensation. You need to get all the possible evidence that the accident wasn’t your fault.

Also, make sure that you have your medical bills that prove your injuries.

Secondly, act fast during the aftermath of the accident. Take photos of the space around you, find any potential witnesses, and get their names and addresses. As mentioned before, your evidence has to be legitimate if you want full compensation.

Thirdly, don’t forget to report the accident to the manager or the property owner. Get written confirmation of a report and demand a copy for yourself.

Taking these steps is crucial for building a well-founded legal case, but you shouldn’t stop there. To make sure you get your compensation, call your attorney. There are even law firms that specialize in slip and fall accidents.

Also, don’t forget that if you want to take legal action, there may be some time limitations. It all depends on a state, circumstances of a fall, and the place where the accident occurred.

But why is it so important to do everything to get full compensation? Well, the average medical cost after a slip and fall accident is 30,000 to 40,000 dollars. Costs like that can be devastating to many people and their families.

Summary

Slip and fall accidents are not only very common but also severely dangerous. More than one million American citizens land in the hospital because of slip and fall, and according to various sources, this number is likely to grow.

You may think that it’s not your concern until you fall and injure yourself. These types of accidents may end just on a sprained wrist or ankle, but the risk of fracturing something is very high.

That’s why it’s essential to pay attention to your surroundings and to stay focused. But if the accident occurs and you’re not at fault, don’t forget about your legal rights.

Remember that you deserve your compensation, but to make sure you get it, you need to take the necessary steps to make your case look stronger.