When you leave for work in the morning or grab your list and head for the store in the afternoon, the last thing you expect to do is take an ambulance ride to the hospital; but slip and fall injuries are the No. 1 reason for emergency room visits. Slip and fall accidents fell more than one million Americans every year; and nearly 17,000 people die from slip and fall accidents in stores, on the street, at home or in the workplace. In fact, falls account for 25% of serious workplace injuries and are the third greatest cause of workplace injury.
Most slip and fall injuries happen in familiar places like your home, local grocery or workplace. One minute you're walking along and the next you're flat on your back and in pain. More than 55% of people over 40 can expect to suffer a debilitating slip and fall person injury sometime during their lifetime.
Every year, slip and fall injuries cost America $36 billion. With medical bills, extensive physical therapy and missed wages, a slip and fall injury can cost $28,000 and often far more. The extent of injuries and degree of disability can make it impossible for family members to care for a slip and fall victim, necessitating a stay in a nursing home or rehabilitation center. Some elderly victims never regain full mobility after a slip and fall injury. A once-independent individual may be confined to a wheelchair or no longer be able to live independently.
Businesses and employers have an obligation to provide safe conditions for their customers and employees. If you are the victim of a slip and fall injury, Philadelphia personal injury attorneys Rosenbaum & Associates can evaluate your case at no charge and advise you of your rights.
