Most people don’t take the idea of “slip and fall” accidents seriously until a fall injury happens to them.
However, the numbers speak for themselves.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), slip and fall accidents are the second leading cause of injury in the United States behind car accidents, resulting in over a million injuries and over 17,000 fatalities per year.
Many falls are preventable.
And often they’re the responsibility of the property owner to ensure that you remain safe from injury or made aware of that there is the potential for injury.
Slip and Fall Case Stats
The stats can be overwhelming when it comes to slip and fall injuries. From lost earnings to medical costs, the impact to Americans is billions of dollars.
Here are a few stats to give you a sense for how big a problem this really is and what’s at stake:
- In 2013, the direct medical costs of falls were approximately $34 billion. (CDC)
- Falls account for over 8 million hospital emergency room visits, with slips and falls accounting for over 1 million visits, or 12% of total falls. (NFSI)
- Slip and falls account for over 300,000 disabling injuries per year in North America. (OSHA)
- Older adults, those 65 and older, are more prone to falls. Incidence of falls goes up with each decade of life. (CDC)
- In 2013, about 25,500 older adults died from unintentional fall injuries. (CDC)
- Falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries. (CDC)
- Slip and fall accounts for 15% of all workplace injuries. (CDC)
- Slip and falls result in Worker’s Compensation claims over $1.8 Billion a year or about 40% of all accidents claims paid out. (OSHA)
- Slip and falls account for 40% of general liability claims. (OSHA)
You’re More than a Number
Despite the mass of statistics around the injuries and impacts of slip and fall injuries, the truth is that you’re more than a number.
Each slip and fall case is unique and must be treated as such.
Because these accidents can be difficult to prove and win in court, they will do everything in their power to diminish or invalidate your claim.
You need professional help when you’ve had a slip and fall accident.
When you work with Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer, you work with an experienced attorney to review your case and collect the facts. This is critical when evaluating the best approach to pursuing your claim.
Determining the Value of Your Claim
If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall accident, there is no magic formula to determine what your case is worth. The assignment of responsibility and the assessment of damage is a complex process.
Some factors that will determine if you have a case and what it would be worth include:
- What injuries were suffered?
- Did or will you need surgery?
- Did you miss work? Are you still unable to work?
- How long was your recovery or is full recovery possible?
- Is there permanent physical damage or scarring?
At Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer we will undergo an extensive review of your claim, the facts surrounding it, and put together our recommendations for pursuing a claim.
We’ll identify the amount of damages that we believe are reasonable to pursue based on your unique situation and our extensive experience pursuing personal injury cases.
If you’ve suffered a fall, we’re here to help. Contact Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer or call at 602-535-5899 for a free case evaluation.
