Florida Senior Citizens and Fall Injury Risk : National Statistics Show Slip, Trip and Fall Accident Injuries and Emergency Room Visits Increasing
As part of National Safety Month, the National Safety Council (NSC) declared June 19 - 25, 2011 as "Prevent Slips, Trips, and Falls" week. The NSC reports that falls cause an astonishing number of accident injuries in the United States, leading to 8.6 million visits to hospital emergency rooms.
As an experienced Fort Lauderdale, Florida slip and fall accident injury lawyer knows all too well, slip / trip / fall accidents -- whether they occur on a flat wet surface (such as in a supermarket, restaurant, or hotel or public restroom), a dry surface that may have obstructions or other walking hazards (such as broken concrete or stairs), or slip-and-fall accidents that occur from a height or elevation (such as scaffolding, ladder, roof, and other Fla. construction accident falls) -- are a leading cause of broken bones; head, neck and spine injuries; and other serious personal injuries and fatality.
Slip and fall accidents in Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Miami and other South Florida communities can cause serious injury and even death to our beloved senior citizens, many of whom are living in Florida nursing homes (where neglect or poor housekeeping and care can lead to seniors falling). The NSC reports that people over age 65 are four times more likely to suffer a death from a fall accident than any other age group. Some statistics related to older adults and the severity of fall injuries:
> The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that in the year 2000, the total direct cost of all fall injuries for people 65 and older exceeded $19 billion.
> The NSC reports that falls are the leading cause of injury-related deaths among adults aged 73 and older and the second leading cause of death for older adults ages 60 to 72.
> The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that common scenarios where senior slip and fall accident injuries may occur include falling on stairs (either going down or up the stairs), falling over obstacles including electrical cords and loose carpet and rugs, and other obstacles on the floor; falling off step stools and ladders.
> For the year 2000, the CPSC reports more than 3,300 product-related deaths for people ages 65 and older (though the CPSC says the actual number of seniors who die from falls is most likely much higher, as "CPSC buys and reports only deaths that have a product identified.")
> Fall injuries are increasing for all age groups, reports the CPSC. From 1997 through 2002, the total number of consumer product hospital emergency room-treated injuries for people ages 65 and older increased by 21%, and for other adults (ages 20 to 64) the increase was 15 percent.
From the perspective of Broward County, Florida personal injury attorneys, slip-and-fall accidents may have premises liability issues. It's best to consult an experienced slip and fall injury lawyer if you or a loved one have been injured in a fall in Fla. that occurred in a public or retail space, hospital or nursing home, during the course of construction or other work, or on someone else's property.
Sources:
National Safety Council:
Preventing Slips, Trips and Falls
Protecting Ourselves from Slips, Trips and Falls
CDC Injury Center:
Costs of Falls Among Older Adults
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission:
SPECIAL REPORT: Emergency Room Injuries Adults 65 and Older (PDF)
