It only takes a moment to slip and fall, causing long-term injury and pain. Recovery and treatment can often be arduous due to the damages resulting from these accidents. Discussing your injuries from a slip and fall accident with an attorney in Tennessee committed to results is always beneficial.
There are common causes of slip and fall accidents to be aware of so that you are not one of the one million people who end up in the emergency room each year due to a slip or fall accident with impacted mobility from an injury. Most of these accidents are preventable when you are aware of the dangers.
A lesser-known but common cause of slips and falls is improper footwear. Wearing the wrong type of shoe for an activity can lead to rather serious falls. Hiking in sandals without ankle support is just one example. Additionally, poor tread on work boots and tennis shoes can contribute to slips and falls.
It is easy to think these accidents happen mostly outside of the home, but it is not uncommon in a space we feel very comfortable in. At home, turning our attention to other distractions while performing tasks can quickly create a slip-and-fall hazard. According to the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI), half of all accidental deaths that occur in the home are because of a fall, with most injuries happening on level ground.
Negligence in a nursing home environment is a common cause and contributor to slip and fall accidents. A reduced sense of balance contributes to this risk causing hip fractures and other injuries that are often life-threatening to an elderly population. Poor monitoring and assistance from the nursing home staff make nursing homes one of the most likely places for slips and falls to occur.
Unfortunately, there is no official training guidance for slips and falls. Still, it should be a company’s priority to notify workers of the most common causes of slips and falls and to make employees aware of areas in the work environment that are more prone to these accidents.
Data from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports nearly 700 fatal falls each year at work, with many more accidents occurring. And 18% of over one million nonfatal injuries resulting in days away from work were related to slips, falls, and trips.
Winter weather can be one of the main contributors to slip and fall accidents. Clearing pathways, sidewalks, streets, and parking lots are the responsibility of businesses and government entities. Negligence in performing these duties leads to severe injuries.
Rain also contributes to slick surfaces. It is not uncommon for sidewalk slips and falls to go unreported.
The major contributor to slips and falls are uneven and wet surfaces. Humans are constantly in motion, and the likelihood of being injured on an uneven or wet surface is very likely. It is vital to be watchful and look for potential slip and fall hazards to prevent possible injuries occurring from:
Slips and falls can be detrimental to anyone, but they become harder to recover from the older a person gets. If negligence in any environment contributed to your slip and fall injury, speak with The Law Offices of Christopher Eads for assistance in initiating a claim.
Slips and falls can be costly and lead to the need for long-term treatment. We help you with financial recovery while you focus on physical recovery.
