Fall injuries are a serious concern. Only those who have never dealt with the consequences of a serious fall think of a”slip and fall” lawsuit as someone who is just trying to make a buck.
As the New York Times reported this week: Falls can kill you.
Southwest Florida’s aging population, and wet tropical climate are just two factors that make the region particular susceptible to fall injuries. Our injury lawyers want fall victims to know they have certain rights, although these cases can be complex and consultation with an experienced law firm is best done as soon as possible after an accident.
It’s no longer enough to prove injury occurred by falling on a substance or hazard while at a business. Florida’s tourism industry and business-friendly environment helped lawmakers push through an amendment that now requires a business to have had actual or constructive knowledge of a hazard and to have failed to correct it. Constructive knowledge generally means a hazard existed for a length of time sufficient enough to have been discovered.
Early legal help and investigation into the facts and circumstances of a fall accident offer the best chance for making an adequate recovery. Make no mistake about it: Far from being frivolous lawsuits, fall accidents are among the leading causes of accidental death and disability. Whether at home, at work, or while visiting a local business or attraction, injuries sustained as a result of serious falls are among the most likely to be life-altering.
Falls and Older Adults: Every 19 minutes an older adult is killed in a fall in this country, according to the New York Times. Falls are the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries among older adults. Businesses that cater to an older clientele should make appropriate accommodations.
Work Falls: The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) just announced that nearly 750 fall deaths reported by the construction industry in 2017 were the highest reported in the 26-year history of the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries. More than 5,000 fatal work injuries occurred nationwide during the year. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health reports falls account for nearly half of fatal construction accident deaths. Perhaps not surprisingly, fall-safety violations were the most common workplace hazards cited by OSHA last year.
Falls from heights as low as six feet have the potential to be deadly, while falls from 30 feet or higher are rarely survived. Those who survive falls are also much more likely to have serious spine, head and neck injuries.
Product Injury: Risk of falling is also present in use of many consumer products, from step ladders and footstools, to scooters and bicycles. Safety and Health magazine recently reported falls are the leading cause of injury using e-scooters, those small standup electric scooters that are proving popular among teenagers and young adults.
Consulting an experienced injury lawyer in Fort Myers or Naples will best protect your rights in the wake of a serious fall accident.
If you or a loved one is injured, call Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Attorneys for the Injured, at 1-800-646-1210.