Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and falls account for over one million hospital accidents each year, and incidents of falls increase with each decade of life. These accidents are incredibly common – here are some of the most prevalent causes of slip and fall accidents.
Uneven or Slick Surfaces
Over 50% of all slip and fall accidents are caused by poor walking surfaces: whether a surface is wet or slippery, or poorly constructed, it can easily lead to a slip, stumble, or trip that results in injury. Pay attention to the surfaces you are walking on – are they uneven? are there loose floorboards in a house or potholes in the road or sidewalk? Notice your environment and respond accordingly.
Footwear
About a quarter of slip and fall incidents can be directly related to improper footwear. While some precautions are obvious, like avoiding running in heels or wearing flip flops on a wet surface, many accidents occur simply as a result of poor traction. Even sneakers and closed-toed shoes can be dangerous if they do not provide proper traction.
Insufficient Job Training
Sometimes slip and fall accidents occur as a result of improper training on the part of an employer. Jobs like construction or manufacturing may require workers to navigate difficult or slick passageways. In these cases, employers may be at fault for incidents that occur as a result of this lack of training. When a slip and fall happens on-the-job, it’s important that you report the details to your employer and document as much information about your accident as possible.
Age
It’s no secret that the older we are, the more likely we are to experience a slip and fall situation. Slip and falls can lead to severe injury in older adults which makes them very concerning. In these cases, our aging bodies may be the culprit to blame for our accident and there may be few things that we can do to prevent a slip and fall. A medical alert necklace can go a long way toward helping older adults who find themselves in a helpless position after a fall.
