Falls can prove deadly for the elderly. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), millions of older people fall every year and suffer from devastating consequences such as head injuries and serious fractures. The CDC states that each year, at least 300,000 elderly adults require hospitalization due to hip fractures. These are serious injuries that might need surgery and a long recovery period.
If you or a loved one suffered injuries and medical expenses due to a hazardous condition on someone else’s property in Clearwater, you could have legal recourse. A Clearwater elderly slip and fall injury lawyer can help you understand your legal options. Contact the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine today for a free case evaluation to determine if you could recover compensation at 1-800-747-3733.
Slip and Fall Accidents
Generally, a property owner is responsible for ensuring reasonably safe conditions on their property. This responsibility extends to repairing any hazardous conditions within a reasonable amount of time. If they cannot fix a dangerous condition immediately, a property owner or representative must warn visitors of the hazard.
To have a slip and fall claim and have a chance of recovering damages, you will have to prove that another party, such as a property owner, failed to maintain their property adequately. If you or a loved one slipped on water or food debris on a restaurant floor, for example, and this resulted in injuries, you could have a claim. Examples of such hazardous conditions can include:
- Slippery or wet floors
- Fraying or bulging carpeting
- Obstacles on the floor such as cables and boxes
- Cluttered walking spaces and stairways
- Loose floorboards
- Uneven flooring or cracks in floor coverings
- Loose rugs and mats
- Inadequate lighting
- Lack of handrails
- Potholes
- Uneven and broken sidewalks
A slip and fall claim can potentially arise in many different circumstances and on various properties, including private, public, residential, and commercial premises. A Clearwater elderly slip and fall injury lawyer can analyze your case and determine whether legal action is an option. Call us now for help with your claim by dialing 1-800-747-3733.
Slip and Fall Injuries in the Elderly
Falls cause many injuries in the elderly. The health consequences of significant injuries and medical expenses can be devastating for elderly individuals and their families. Injuries that the elderly can suffer due to avoidable slips and falls include:
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
A TBI and other brain injuries can happen if a person hits their head when falling or bumps their head on an object. While not all TBIs are serious, they can be severe and cause chronic health effects, such as cognitive decline, seizures, and balance problems.
In some cases, a TBI may not show up until days or even weeks after a fall. Seeking medical advice immediately after a fall can therefore be important, even if the individual displays no obvious symptoms.
Soft-Tissue Injuries
A fall can cause dislocations, sprains, muscle tears, and other soft tissue injuries. While a younger adult may heal within a reasonable timeframe, the elderly may take a long time to recover from soft-tissue injuries. An elderly individual could end up immobile or with reduced mobility during a long recovery and beyond.
Complicated Fractures
Fractures of the ankle, wrist, and arms are common in falls. However, falls can also account for much more complicated fractures, for instance, those of the hip and pelvis. Breaking a major bone can require a lengthy recovery time and expensive long-term medical treatments and rehabilitative therapies.
Spinal Cord and Nerve Injuries
The spinal cord can suffer significant damage due to trauma or overstretching during a fall. Spinal cord and nerve injuries can result in permanent disability, such as paralysis. Medical expenses with a spine injury can be astronomical. Moreover, an elderly patient may require assistance and help with daily life after suffering such a tragic injury.
There can be many other injuries in slip and fall accidents, such as lacerations, knee damage, and extensive bruising. While a young adult may bounce back relatively quickly after a serious fall, an elderly person may never recover fully. After a serious injury, such as a pelvic fracture, they could end up permanently disabled.
Falls in Nursing Homes
Those who have loved ones in nursing homes may believe that falls are just a part of getting older. While it is true that we do get fragile and tend to fall more in old age, falls are generally avoidable. A nursing home should take adequate precautions and have fall prevention policies in place to minimize falls on the premises.
If your loved one suffered an unexplained fall in the nursing home, they could be the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, and we recommend an urgent investigation into the accident.
In the nursing home, a resident may suffer from falls due to various reasons, including:
- Physical abuse
- A lack of mobility aids
- Inadequate or ill-fitting shoes
- Cluttered walking surfaces
- Medical conditions and certain medications
- Age-related decline of agility and mobility
Whether your loved one suffered a fall due to neglect or a dangerous condition, such as slippery floors or inadequate lighting, the nursing home could potentially be liable for any damages and medical costs.
Your Clearwater Elderly Slip and Fall Injury Lawyer Can Fight for You
If your elderly relative suffered a painful injury and other damages due to someone else’s inattention or recklessness, you do not have to stand for it. Premises liability law can provide you with legal recourse. You could potentially recover damages, including medical expenses, pain and suffering, loss of life quality, and others.
Consider that holding a property owner or nursing home administration responsible for their failures can prevent other elderly individuals from suffering avoidable injuries. It is a property owner’s responsibility to ensure visitors do not encounter any dangerous conditions.
An elderly slip and fall injury lawyer from the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine might be able to help you. Call us now for a free consultation with a team member by dialing 1-800-747-3733.
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