Safety report: Annual elderly injuries often linked to falls

On behalf of Steven Crell of Steve Crell Law posted in Personal Injury on Wednesday, November 11, 2015.

Injuries happen to people of all ages, but the causes, types and severity of injuries have a different pattern when an injury victim is 61 years old and older. According to the U.S. Product Safety Commission and its reports of accident injuries, some of the most common and serious injuries to the elderly that occur every year are tied to slips, trips and falls.

The following are some of the common areas and everyday products that HealthGrove reports lead to accidents among the elderly year to year:

• Flooring, including carpets and rugs: About 385,000 injuries per year
• Stairs: About 187,000 injuries per year
• Porches and balconies: About 19,000 injuries per year

Accidents over carpeting, rugs and flooring are the top injury-causing events to the elderly as reported by HealthGrove. That injury trend could seem odd given that flooring is such a seemingly innocuous item. But the everyday aspect of walking over flooring is probably why it is such a common cause of injury.

Flooring, stairs and porches are things that can be hard to avoid whether someone lives in an apartment, is out shopping, visiting a friend, or living in an assisted or nursing home facility. The more we encounter an object, the greater the chance that the object will be tied to an accident. The reality that we all must use flooring and stairs is why it is crucial for property owners to pay close attention to the conditions of such areas and items.

In many situations, there are property owners who can prevent slips, falls and trips by properly maintaining carpets, floors, stairs and porches. If there is a lip in the flooring that causes trips, a slippery patio condition, or an unmarked step that leads to someone’s injury, there could be legal cause to file a claim of negligence.

A fall can lead to various types of injuries, but those injuries tend to be more serious for elderly victims. A lawyer experienced in premises liability claims is a good source of information and sensitivity regarding slip, trip, and fall accidents and the steps necessary to seek closure.