Prevention of slip-and-falls among elderly is important

Many people are raised with the idea that they owe their elders respect. As a society, isn’t that true as well? Shouldn’t communities work to honor seniors and protect their well-being?

A recent report about spinal cord injuries underlines the need to address a specific safety matter among seniors in New York City and the rest of this country. Hospital numbers indicate that more and more elderly citizens are suffering traumatic injuries in slip-and-fall accidents than in the past.

Motor vehicle accidents used to the be top cause of traumatic spinal cord injuries among the older population. Now, more men and women of a certain age are sustaining the life-changing, sometimes fatal spinal injuries because they have fallen.

Our source doesn’t indicate the exact causes of the falls that led to the reported 30 percent of spinal cord injuries among seniors in 2009. Some resources suggest that the higher rate of serious falls is the result of more active seniors these days.

Whatever the reason behind the slip-and-falls, businesses and property owners have more reason than ever to live up to their legal duties to keep safe premises. If, for example, snow or ice isn’t properly removed from walkways, a senior could fall and be seriously injured.

Falls sometimes can lead to minor injuries like a bruise or scrape. But they can also lead to spinal cord and brain injuries. Especially among older victims, a fall can be deadly. Someone who believes that they or perhaps an elderly loved one was injured in a preventable slip should work with a premises liability lawyer who can protect their rights.

Source: Insurance Business America, “Falls overtake auto wrecks as leading cause of spinal cord injuries,” Feb. 5, 2014