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Did you know that slip and fall accidents are the leading cause of injury-related deaths among senior citizens? But aging isn’t the only thing that causes elderly individuals to start falling. While many seniors over the age of 75 have weaker bones and vision problems, there are outside factors involved that lead to slip and fall accidents—such as hazardous environmental factors like cluttered walkways, inadequate lighting, and spilled liquid.
When parking lots, walkways, stairways, stores, restaurants, and other premises are kept poorly or include environmental hazards, a slip and fall accident involving an elderly individual might occur. According to the CDC, over one-third of seniors fall annually. While not all falls cause serious injuries, some falls have caused traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and even death.
While anyone can suffer a traumatic brain injury, statistics indicate that the young and old are the most common victims of TBIs. Sadly, many seniors in Florida hit their heads on the ground after falling. If you or someone you love has hit their head in a slip and fall accident, be on the lookout for the following signs and symptoms of a TBI, including:
- Headaches or migraines
- Vomiting
- Memory loss
- Balancing problems
- Issues with walking
- Trouble talking
- Difficulties processing information
- Trouble concentrating
- Blurred vision
- Muscle spasms
If you are experiencing any of the aforementioned symptoms, it is critical that you seek medical treatment for a thorough examination. Even if you did hit your head on the ground during the fall, not all head injuries are life-threatening; however, it is best to be sure. While head trauma is a common fall-related injury, especially among seniors, other slip and fall injuries seniors in Sarasota suffer from include hip fractures, wrist injuries, knee injuries, broken bones, shoulder dislocations, and back and neck injuries.
Just because seniors are more likely to suffer fatal fall injuries doesn’t mean that all of the falls are their fault. Many falls involving elderly individuals occur due to poorly maintained stairs, sidewalks, grocery store aisles, and other private and public grounds. Unfortunately, insurance companies for the other side will attempt to blame seniors’ falls on their poor health, weaker bones, and age.
This is why seniors involved in slip and fall accidents need to speak with an experienced attorney—to protect themselves from the big, bad insurance companies. If your elderly parent or relative died as a result of a slip and fall accident, you also need to contact an attorney for legal advice. You can receive a free initial consultation by calling us at 888-409-3805 to find out your rights and how we can help you.
