We have been serving clients as Las Vegas injury lawyers in slip and fall cases for 30 years. Of all of the personal injury cases that can arise, few draw more skepticism than those that relate to these types of incidents. That's because people tend to think of the slapstick comedy routines that involve slipping on a banana peel before unbridled hilarity unfolds when they are told that someone was hurt in this manner. However, people should know that these accidents are anything but a joke, as people are seriously injured and even killed in slip and fall accidents in very high numbers every year. Therefore, it would likely be helpful for people to be aware of certain facts regarding slip and fall accidents so that these situations can be put in proper context. These 10 little-known facts regarding slip and fall accidents come courtesy of the National Floor Safety Institute.
- Slip and fall accidents lead to more than one million visits to the emergency room every year in the United States.
- Slip and fall accidents are considered the primary cause of people missing work every year across the country.
- 22 percent of all slip and fall accidents in the United States led to people missing work for more than 31 days.
- Slip and fall injuries are the leading cause of workers' compensation claims for people between 15 and 24 years old.
- Floors and flooring material cause approximately 2 million injuries suffered in falls on an annual basis.
- Half of all accidental deaths in homes in the United States are caused by falls.
- Every year, one of three people over the age of 65 will experience a fall, and half of these people have fallen before.
- More than 15,000 people over the age of 65 die from injuries suffered in falls in the United States every year, which is more than double what it was 15 years ago.
- 60 percent of people killed because of injuries suffered in falls are at least 75 years old.
- Over 60 percent of all nursing home residents fall every year in the United States.
It should be noted that the NFSI differentiates between falls and slip and fall accidents, as falls can occur when someone trips over something that they did not see or because someone simply loses his or her balance. Slip and fall accidents relate to people falling because they encountered a slippery surface that they did not see beforehand. However, the facts presented above should provide people with a bit of perspective regarding just how serious a problem slip and fall accidents are in the United States. People who are harmed in these incidents while on the property of others need to be able to pursue the recovery of compensation so that they do not have to face the prospect of paying for their recovery alone. If you or someone you love has been injured in a slip and fall accident, contact High Stakes Injury Law today to schedule a free initial consultation.