As people go about their daily lives in the Phoenix area, they are heading to work, stopping at the grocery store and meeting with friends for lunch. They are not thinking about the unsafe conditions that may be present just below their feet.
However, slipping and falling due to negligent conditions or illegal practices is shockingly common in the U.S. According to the National Floor Safety Institute, about 12% of all emergency room injuries involving falls relate directly to slip and fall accidents. That amounts to over a million emergency room visits. The NFSI also provides many other staggering statistics.
- 5% of all people who fall suffer a bone fracture—Bone fractures are one of the most severe consequences of a fall.
- Falls are the leading cause of emergency room visits—Over 21% of all emergency room visits in the U.S. are due to falls. That is over 8 million visits.
- Unsafe flooring materials can lead to a fall—It is not always negligence that contributes to a slip and fall injury. More than 2 million falls are due to the floor itself.
Falls among older people
For those over 65, falling is a significant concern. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, about 30% of older adults in the U.S. report falling each year. Arizona residents are just below the average, coming in at 28.5%. Falls are the second most common cause of injury-related deaths in folks over 65 years old. For those who are over 85, falls are the leading cause of death due to an injury.
