Slip and fall accidents account for more than 10 million injuries each year with a high percentage of injuries to lower limbs like legs, knees, and ankles.
Slip and Fall Injuries
Every year, over one million Americans are admitted to hospital emergency rooms for slip and fall injuries. That equates to medical treatment for more than 2,000 injury victims every day. Although slip and falls are particularly dangerous for elderly adults over age 65, they impact all age groups with a variety of injuries that cause pain and immobility.
Like most accidents, slip and falls happen suddenly with little time to prepare. If a person falls forward, the face, arms, hands, and wrists are often injured when the victim tries to brace for the fall. If a person falls backward, injuries occur more frequently to the neck, back, legs, and tailbone. Some slip and fall accidents are caused by tripping over uneven flooring surfaces, extension cords, and objects in the floor. Slip and fall lawyers see many knee and leg injuries because these body parts often take the most impact.
Knee Injuries
Injuries to the knees often include dislocation and fractures of the patella, known as the kneecap. A fractured patella is a serious injury that makes it difficult or even impossible to straighten the knee or walk on the affected leg. In simple patellafractures, treatment often involves wearing a splint or cast until the kneecap heals. More severe patella injuries cause pieces of bone to move out of place resulting in chronic pain, swelling, loss of mobility, and the need for surgery to stabilize the kneecap.
Leg Injuries
Leg injuries from slip and falls often involve fractures and broken bones, torn tendons and ligaments, and soft tissue damages. The most severe injury is usually a fractured femur, the largest bone in the body that runs from the pelvis to the knee. A fractured or broken femur requires immediate medical attention to brace the leg and reset the bone, otherwise permanent immobility may occur.
While many slip and falls are simply accidents, others are caused by property owner negligence. When slip and falls on another person’s property are caused by dangerous conditions and the owner does nothing to fix the problems, he/she may be held liable for the injuries. A slip and fall lawyer can pursue legal actions against the property owner for damages related to the fall.