Almost everyone reading this will have slipped and fallen at some point in their lives. Sometimes people fall down due to their own lack of balance or clumsiness. At other times, a dangerous condition causes or contributes to a fall in such a way that the fall and any resulting injuries are the result of someone else’s negligence. When this occurs, victims may be able to recover by bringing a personal injury claim against the party or person responsible for causing their fall. Some of the potential damages available in a slip and fall lawsuit include compensation for medical bills that result, any ongoing medical treatment, lost income due to missed work, as well as compensation for non-economic damages such as pain and suffering or loss of quality of life. As a result, it is important for anyone who has been injured in a slip and fall accident to consult with an aggressive and experienced Houston slip and fall injury attorney as soon as possible to determine whether and against whom he or she may have a claim.
According to the National Safety Council (NSC), slip and fall accidents are one of the most common causes of unintentional injury in the country. In fact, slip and falls account for around 8.9 million emergency department visits each year. Some other facts and figures regarding slip and fall accidents include:
- 1 in 3 individuals over 65 falls every year (CDC)
- Older people are hospitalized because of injuries resulting from falls 5 times more often than they are for other injuries (CDC)
- Falls among older adults accounted for $30 billion in medical costs in 2010 alone (CDC)
- Emergency departments treated 2.4 million injuries sustained by older adults who fell (CDC)
- Slip and fall accidents are the second most common cause of lost workday accidents in general industry (CDC)
As these data make clear, slip and fall accidents are a significant public health problem that must be addressed. Part of the solution is holding those those that cause slip and fall accidents accountable through a civil claim for damages. When property and business owners understand that they may be held accountable for dangerous conditions on their premises, they will be that much more motivated to maintain those premises in a safe manner and remove or remedy those conditions that may contribute to a slip and fall accident.
Houston slip and fall attorney Stewart Guss is dedicated to helping victims obtain a fair and just settlement and has been representing folks in Houston, Cypress, Tomball, Spring, Katy, The Woodlands and throughout Texas for almost 20 years. For a free, no-obligation consultation with Stewart, call our office today at 800-898-4877. Remember, there is no charge for the consultation, and we charge no fee unless we win your case.
