Fall-Down Injuries Can Be Deadly
Posted in Accident & Injury on October 18, 2013
Falls are the third-leading cause of unintentional death in the United States, following car accidents and accidental poisoning. Falls account for approximately 8.9 million visits to the emergency room each year and resulted in more than 26,000 fatalities in 2010. The risk of falling, and fall-related problems, increases with age and is a serious issue everywhere. We encourage you to take the time to remove slip, trip and fall hazards to keep your family safe.
Common locations for falls:
- Doorways
- Ramps
- Cluttered hallways
- Areas with heavy traffic
- Uneven surfaces
- Areas prone to wetness or spills
- Unguarded heights
- Unstable work surfaces
- Ladders
- Stairs
Fall prevention tips:
- Secure electrical and phone cords out of traffic areas
- Remove small throw rugs or use non-skid mats to keep them from slipping
- Remove tripping hazards (paper, boxes, toys, clothes, shoes) from stairs and walkways
- Periodically check the condition of walkways and steps, and repair damages immediately
- Never stand on a chair, table or other surface on wheels
- Clean up all spills immediately
Business owners have an enhanced duty of care to provide a save environment to their customers, or invitees. The owner of a business has a duty to protect its invitees, not only against dangers the owner knows about, but also against those that could discovered with reasonable care. Customers and other invitees enter the premises assuming the business owner has taken steps to ensure their safety. If a store owner’s actions (or inaction) breach this duty of care, they may be liable for any resulting injuries.