Slip and fall injuries pose significant risks for adults 65 and older, often leading to severe complications. Each year, millions of older Americans fall, many sustaining hip fractures or head trauma – two injuries particularly concerning for older individuals.
Several common hazards contribute to slips and falls. Indoors, you have the usual culprits like slippery floors and frayed carpeting. Outdoors, cracked sidewalks, uneven walking surfaces and poor lighting are common causes of slips and falls.
Hip injuries: severe pain, mobility issues, costly medical bills
Excruciating hip fractures are a common consequence of falls among older adults. Treatment for these injuries can be costly, ranging from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands without insurance.
The possible need for multiple surgeries, hospital stays and rehabilitation can drive costs even higher. Adequate medical intervention can improve the odds of recovering from a fracture.
Head injuries: cognitive harm, disability, massive injury expenses
Brain injury is another concern for older people and occurs commonly in slips and falls. A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can be devastating, often causing mental decline and a need for daily assistance.
Victims may also experience personality changes like increased irritability, impulsivity or difficulty managing emotions. Possible treatments include rehabilitation, various medications and sometimes, surgery, all of them quite expensive.
For senior citizens, recovering from severe slip and fall injuries can be prolonged and complicated by pre-existing conditions or poor health. You need quality medical care, and a successful premises liability claim can yield the compensation necessary to get that care.
When a chance exists that someone – a property owner or manager, a building tenant or even a government entity – is liable for your harm, seek guidance. A representative familiar with New York premises liability law can help you obtain just compensation.