As we get older, it becomes harder to navigate around certain areas or react to sudden objects like we can when we are younger. Reflexes slow down and this can make it harder to maneuver around. It should be no surprise, then, that one of the most common types of accidents suffered by seniors is slip and fall incidents. These injuries are often very dangerous.
According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), every 20 minutes a person dies from fall injuries, and thousands more are injured. More than three million older adults end up in hospital emergency rooms each year because of injuries sustained in falls, with 800,000 of those victims end up being admitted with serious head, hip, and other injuries. Even more alarming, it is estimated that more than one in four seniors fall each year, but less than half of those victims tell their doctors. This means that many of these victims could be suffering from serious injuries and not receiving treatment.
There are certain steps you can take to decrease the risk of slip and fall injuries. If you do suffer a fall due to another party’s negligence, make sure to contact a North Carolina personal injury attorney.
Talk with Your Doctor
Your doctor should have suggestions on how you can reduce your risk of falling, particularly if you are on any medications that can have an impact on your balance. Unfortunately, even though they help with medical issues people suffer from, there are many medications that have side effects that can cause people to become light-headed, dizzy, or drowsy.
You also want to make sure that none of the medications you take could interact with each other, producing a risk of falling. You may also have a medical condition that could interfere with walking or balance. In some cases, your doctor may recommend using a walking aid to help decrease your fall risk.
Your Home
Another suggestion safety advocates have is to look around your home to check for any areas that could pose a potential fall hazard. For example, any clutter on the floor or pieces of furniture in out-of-the-way locations could put you or visitors to your home in danger of suffering a fall.
You also want to make sure you have railings on all staircases and that there are no loose stairs or stair pads. Make sure that all areas of your home are safely lit, especially at night. Many people use solar nightlights throughout the home, especially in the bathroom, in case they need to get up at night.
Your bathroom is one of the most common places for slip and fall injuries, so make sure you have grab bars installed around the toilet and in the tub/shower to prevent slip and fall accidents.
Contact a North Carolina Slip and Fall Accident Attorney
Despite how many safety tips a person follows, there are many slip and fall accidents that are caused by the negligence of another party. For example, if a property owner fails to address a safety hazard, this can result in a visitor to the property falling and suffering a serious injury. When this happens, the victim can pursue damages for financial compensation for the losses their injury caused them.
Call a North Carolina personal injury attorney from Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp to find out how we can help you get the compensation you are entitled to for your injuries.
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