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A slip and fall accident can have a devastating impact on a senior citizen’s quality of life.

When Seniors Have Slip and Fall Accidents

For a healthy young adult, a slip and fall or trip and fall accident is usually a rather minor affair. The individual may suffer a few bumps and bruises, with the potential for head injuries, back injuries, or broken bones in more serious cases. But for senior citizens, just about any fall has the potential to be very serious indeed.

According to the CDC, one in three senior citizens will have a fall this year. Of the seniors who fall, 30 percent will be so badly injured that they need to be hospitalized. In some cases, the injuries may be so severe that they contribute to the senior’s death. The most common injuries senior citizens suffer in falls include:

  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Injuries to internal organs
  • Back injuries
  • Fractures

Any of these injuries can be extremely detrimental to a senior’s quality of life. Why? Because seniors heal and recover slower, meaning their injuries are likely to leave them incapacitated longer. In some cases, injuries from a fall may even spell the end to an older adult’s independence.

Some Slip and Fall Injuries Deserve Compensation

Some slip and fall and trip and fall accidents are true accidents caused by nothing more than clumsiness. But in other cases, negligence is to blame. Typically, this is the negligence of a property owner who has failed to remove or warn against slip and fall or trip and fall hazards on their property. Nursing homes can also be blamed for falls if staff did not take proper care in assisting residents.

When a senior citizen is injured in a fall caused by someone else’s negligence, they may be entitled to compensation including:

  • Medical costs: Because senior citizens tend to be more prone to injury and take longer to recover, their medical expenses after a slip and fall injury can be quite large.
  • Long term care costs: If a slip and fall injury results in permanent impairment that affects a senior’s ability to live independently, the victim may need to go into a nursing home. Some examples might be a broken hip, which could limit mobility significantly, or a brain injury, which could prevent a senior from being able to care for themselves.
  • Pain and suffering: In addition to the pain of their physical injuries, seniors also need to be compensated for the damage to their emotional and mental health that a severe injury can cause by negatively impacting their quality of life.

Consult a Slip and Fall Attorney Today

If you or a loved one have been injured in a slip and fall accident , you can and should consult an attorney for advice about seeking compensation. At The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker, we offer free initial consultations. Just call us at 800-333-0000.