Slip and Fall Accident Facts

Every day, nearly 2,000 people in the United States visit emergency rooms for injuries related to a slip-and-fall accident.  If you have ever been tempted to think about slip-and-fall accidents as simply minor mishaps, think again!  The facts about slip-and-fall tell a different story.

Slip and Fall Accident Facts

  • The workplace is one of the most common places for slip and fall accidents. Nearly a quarter-million non-fatal slip and fall accidents took place in workplaces in 2019, and almost 900 workplace slip and fall accidents were fatal.
  • Most workplace slip and fall accidents occurred in retail or service settings. These accidents represent about a quarter of all workplace injuries and were the primary reason for missed days due to injury.  About a quarter of all slip and fall injuries in workplaces required more than a month of recovery time.  Fatalities are more common in the construction and mining industries.
  • Fatal workplace accidents are more likely to affect men than women, with 65 percent of all workplace falls requiring hospital or emergency room treatment occurring in males. About 5 percent of accidents involving females are fatal, while 11 percent of accidents involving males lead to death.
  • Workplace slip and fall accidents are responsible for more than $70 billion in medical costs alone, not including lost time and other expenses.
  • Outside the workplace, seniors are more likely than any other group to be victims of slip and fall accidents.
  • The average disabling slip-and-fall injury costs $300,000 per year in medical bills, lost wages, increased living expenses, and other costs.
  • Trips on level ground are responsible for about 20 percent of all falls, while slips cause about 13 percent. Falls from heights occur in about 11 percent of cases.
  • The causes most often cited for slip-and-fall accidents include wet or slippery walkways; floors in disrepair; unanchored carpeting; liquid spills; and icy or snowy pathways.
  • The Centers for Disease Control estimate that at least $50 billion is spent every year on the treatment of non-fatal falls, while $750 million is spent on costs related to fatal falls. Approximately 20 percent of all falls lead to serious injuries, including traumatic brain injuries (8 percent); spinal cord injuries (7 percent); and fractures or broken bones (5 percent).  Serious fall injury victims may never regain their previous levels of good health and function.

For those injured in slip-and-fall accidents, a trip to the ER may be just the beginning of a long and painful journey to collect compensation and be treated fairly for these injuries.  Some victims are never able to collect money from employers or others who are liable for their injuries without the help of an attorney with experience in handling slip-and-fall injury cases.

At Barber & Associates, we work with slip-and-fall victims to help them recover the money they deserve to pay for their medical bills and other expenses.  We have been helping fall victims for many years and have the track record to show our success. Give us a call today to learn more about how we can help you.

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