5 Slip and Fall Statistics That Might Surprise You

Every single person on the planet has probably fallen down at one time or another. Maybe the ground or floor was wet. Maybe one of your legs fell asleep and you didn’t realize until you stood up… and then went right back down. Maybe you were just plain clumsy.

It happens.

Most of the time, our falls don’t amount to much. You might feel embarrassed, get your clothes dirty, or end up with a few scrapes or bruises, but that’s it. Falling down is just a minor inconvenience. Certainly it doesn’t seem like something worth filing a lawsuit over. It’s not big deal.

Except that sometimes, “minor” falls are anything but. Statistics show that some slip and falls can actually cause very serious injuries and cost people tens of thousands – or more – in medical bills, lost income, and more. Definitely a big deal.

Statistics on Slip and Fall Accidents

The following statistics were collected by the National Floor Safety Institute and the National Safety Council’s Injury Facts 2016:

• Our ERs see a lot of falls. Falls are the most common cause of emergency room visits. Slip and fall accidents account for 1 million visits to the ER each year, and make up 12% of all fall accidents.
• Slip and falls can break your bones. Some of the most serious injuries from slip and fall accidents include fractures. Five percent of all people who fall suffer from a fracture.
• Falls can be fatal. Falls, including slip and falls, are the third highest cause of unintentional death, and 32,000 people died from a fall in 2014. Most of these deaths occurred at the victim’s home or in their community. Which brings us to…
• Watch out around the house. Did you know that half of all accidental home deaths are caused by a fall? Moreover, ground level falls (i.e. slip and falls) cause most of these falling deaths.
• Slip and fall accidents are expensive. Slip and falls cause the highest number of occupational injuries for people aged 55 and over. They also cause the highest number of worker’s compensation claims and lost days at work.

Even if a slip and fall accident doesn’t result in death, the costs of the emergency room, treatments, surgeries, and even time off from work can add up. A slip and fall can get very expensive very quickly.

If You Have Been the Victim of a Slip and Fall Accident

Some slip and fall accidents are just that – accidents. If, for example, you slip and fall around your house because you were running around and haven’t cleaned recently, you may be frustrated, but won’t be able to receive compensation by filing a lawsuit.

However, if you slipped and fell on someone else’s property, you may be able to file a lawsuit to receive compensation depending on how it happened. Managers and owners have a duty to make sure that their properties are safe and well-maintained – regardless of whether the property in question is a residence, a business, or a community area like a park or pool. If they are negligent in their duties, you should not have to pay for their mistake.

For example, if an employee saw spilled water during their shift and neglected to mop it up or give customers in the store a proper warning, you may have a lawsuit on your hands. After all, the accident (and the costs of your accident) could have been prevented if the employee was doing their job to keep the store clean and safe.

Want to learn more about a slip and fall lawsuit? Reach out to an experienced Florida personal injury lawyer.

About the Author

Andrew Winston is a partner at the personal injury law firm of Winston Law. For over 20 years, he has successfully represented countless people in all kinds of personal injury cases, with a particular focus on child injury, legal malpractice, and premises liability. He has been recognized for excellence in the representation of injured clients by admission to the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, is AV Preeminent Rated by the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, enjoys a 10.0 rating by AVVO as a Top Personal Injury Attorney, has been selected as a Florida “SuperLawyer” from 2011-2017 – an honor reserved for the top 5% of lawyers in the state – and was voted as one of the Top 100 Lawyers in Florida and to Florida Trend’s “Legal Elite.”