The town of Springfield, Missouri recently settled with a Florida man for $200,000 after he suffered a knee injury from slipping and falling on one of the town’s decorated storm drains.
The city was at fault because the storm drain had not been resealed and had “fallen off the maintenance schedule.”
The man’s knee injury is a common one in slip-and-fall accidents, and in this issue, we’ll look at others.
How common are slip-and-fall accidents?
According to the National Safety Council (NSC), slip-and-fall accidents are responsible for more than 9 million visits to the emergency room annually. Worse than that, they are the #1 cause of unintentional deaths in the U.S.
What are common causes for slip-and-fall accidents?
While it’s obviously true that you can experience a slip-and-fall accident because of your own negligence, the ones that wind up in litigation are the ones that occur on business property or on property owned by someone else.
For example, some of the more common causes for slip-and-fall accidents include debris that’s been left on the floor; a floor that’s wet without any signage warning others of the danger; and surfaces that are uneven (much like what happened in the case mentioned above).
What are common slip-and-fall injuries?
Because the whole body is exposed during most slip-and-fall accidents, the types of possible injuries can run the gamut. However, the most common ones are:
- Soft tissue (affecting muscles, ligaments and tendons);
- Head injuries (including Traumatic Brain Injury)
- Back and spinal cord injuries (these can, in turn, lead to other significant injuries throughout the body);
- Sprains and fractures; and
- Hip fractures.
What should I do if I’m in a slip-and-fall accident?
We’ve talked before about steps to take if you’re involved in a slip-and-fall accident.
- Make sure someone knows.
Before leaving the scene of the incident, be sure that you’ve made supervisors of the property aware of the situation. Put it in writing. - See a doctor ASAP!
Injuries can take a while to make themselves known. That’s why it’s important to have a full medical examination by your doctor.
If you’ve suffered a slip-and-fall accident in Alaska, call Barber & Associates
Get in touch with us here at Barber & Associates. The first consultation is always free.
Our number is 907-276-5858 or you can reach us via email.