WE RESPOND TO YOUR NEEDS 414-271-1440
Slip and Fall Accidents and Senior Citizen Injuries
The number of brain injuries suffered by the elderly during slip and fall accidents is increasing at an alarming rate, according to the Center for Disease Control.
A recent CDC study found that one in every 45 Americans, age 75 and older, experienced brain injuries that led to emergency room trips, hospitalization, or death in 2013. This means that the rate for this type of injury rose a stunning 76 percent from 2007. To compare, the CDC reports that the overall rate for head injuries during this time rose 39 percent.
What Accounts for the Increase in Head Injuries in the Elderly Caused by Falls?
Experts are not sure of the exact reasons for the huge jump in head injuries. However, they suspect that the increase in elderly people who are living at home are falling repeatedly, yet they are not getting the help they need due to the fear that their independence will be taken away.
This is a dangerous way of dealing with falls, experts warn. A simple, initial fall may cause an injury, such as a concussion, that increases the risk for falls in the future. Future falls tend be accompanied by more severe injury.
Falls are the top cause of injury and death in the elderly. About 27,000 elderly people in this country die each year due to complications from a fall.
Common Slip and Fall Hazards for the Elderly
There are several common hazards at hospitals, nursing homes, and senior living centers that cause slip and falls where an elderly person may not be at fault. These include:
- Wet floors;
- Slick floors;
- Loose or curled rugs;
- Loose handrails in hallways or bathrooms; and
- Unsecured or improperly placed cords or tubes.
Contact a Milwaukee, WI, Slip and Fall Lawyer
If you or a loved one has slipped and fallen, and you believe the accident was the fault of another party, you should speak with an attorney right away. Slip and falls are complicated cases, and many people do not realize the numerous law requirements that must be satisfied in order for victims to prevail.
In Wisconsin, most slip and fall lawsuits must be filed within three years of the accident. This deadline does not give an accident victim much time since research and investigations often take place before a valid suit can be filed. Call the accomplished Milwaukee slip and fall attorneys at Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown, LLP at 414-271-1440 to schedule your first meeting with our firm today.
Source:
https://www.statnews.com/2017/03/16/falls-elderly-brains/
