Slip and fall accidents occur quite frequently in places like sidewalks, grocery stores, office campuses, schools, etc. These accidents might seem like minor ones but can seriously affect your health. Research shows that 46,653 people died from falls at home and work in 2022.
Although not all falls result in death, the chances of you ending up with a serious injury are highly possible. You could suffer bone fractures, head injuries, or long-term mobility issues.
Hence, it becomes essential for you to be aware of the health consequences of slip and fall accidents on unsafe properties.
What Makes a Property Unsafe?
Unsafe properties are those that come with serious health risks that can cause injuries to residents or visitors. The risk factor linked to unsafe property increases depending on the negligence, how badly the property is maintained, and the faulty design.
Let us take a look at some common causes that potentially lead to slip and fall accidents on unsafe properties.
Uneven Surfaces
Cracked sidewalks, broken stairs, uneven flooring, or poorly maintained carpeting fall under uneven surfaces. The chances of you tripping on the floor become high on uneven surfaces. Therefore, property owners need to ensure that the surfaces are maintained in the best possible condition and repaired or replaced on time.
Slippery Surfaces
Slippery surfaces are those surfaces where the floors are wet due to spills, leaks, or poor floor maintenance. The slipping risk on floors like this is significantly higher than most of the other surfaces. HSE reports nearly 25% of food and drink industry injuries as slips and trips. That’s around 1,300 injuries a year, of which 80% are slips and 20% are trips.
This fall risk concern is especially high in foot traffic places like restaurant kitchens, bar floors, or public restrooms.
Immediate Health Consequences Of Slip And Fall Accidents
Slip and fall injuries vary based on the severity of the accident. You could end up with minor injuries like bruises and scratches to severe injuries like neck sprains, leg fractures, and concussions.
TorHoerman Law states that a little over 9.2 million patients needed emergency care due to fall injuries in 2016. That’s more than 21% of all hospital emergency room visits. This statistic shows how common and serious these injuries can be.
Minor injuries can be treated with just basic first aid and decent rest. For moderate injuries like a sprain, you need proper medical attention and short-term assistance for mobility. However, you might have to undergo surgery and extended rehabilitation sessions for major injuries like broken legs and head injuries.
Unfortunately, slip-and-fall accidents occur regularly in most cities like St. Louis due to unsafe properties.
The recent case of a woman slipping and falling down stairs in St. Louis is an example. As per reports, the woman experienced a serious head injury with a concussion, unconsciousness, and vision problems. Additionally, she tore her left rotator cuff and needed surgery, extensive rehab, and specialist treatment for neck and back injuries.
This case highlights how seemingly minor slips and falls can lead to long-term health problems. If you are one of those injured in a slip and fall accident in St. Louis, consulting St. Louis personal injury lawyers would help.
You can get compensated for lost work and medical bills with the help of a personal injury lawyer.
Long-Term Health Impacts and Complications
Even though you might feel like things would get better after slip and fall injuries, chances are quite high that it will have a long-lasting effect. As we go through this section, we’ll look at long-term impacts and difficulties after a fall.
Chronic Pain
Chronic pain is one of the most common long-term side effects of slip and fall accidents. According to the National Institutes of Health, chronic pain is more common among U.S. adults than diabetes, depression, and hypertension.
Chronic pains such as bruises, sprains, and fractures can lead to consistent pain for months and years to come. This makes it hard for someone to take part in activities they once enjoyed.
Mobility Limitations
The other long-term side effect that comes with slip and fall accidents is mobility limitations. Your ability to move becomes that difficult depending on the severity of injury. A loss of mobility can be anything from not being able to walk or climb stairs to needing physical therapy. Limitations like these can be incredibly frustrating and can hurt your self-confidence.
Psychological Scars
Accidents like slip and fall can be emotionally draining too. You could feel anxious and have that fear of falling creep into your head. Once you get into this zone, you will start to be more careful about your daily activities. You start to limit your social interactions, In most cases, the situation gets so worse that you would eventually need professional help.
Sadly, slip and fall accidents happen a lot and often result in serious injuries. It’s crucial to raise public awareness about these incidents. Let’s create a safety culture by being cautious and promoting responsible property ownership. A focus on proper maintenance, eliminating possible hazards, and providing clear warnings is crucial.
