North Dakota Slip and Fall Injury Attorneys
Slip and Fall Statistics
Slip and falls can be incredibly dangerous, even if it doesn’t seem like it. When you slip and land hard on the ground or hit your head on an object, it can cause severe injuries. In our society, slip and falls are often portrayed as funny, but they can be extremely serious and may be more common than you might think. Falls count for 8 million hospital room visits every year, making slips and falls the leading cause (21%) of hospital visits.
Slips and falls are also the leading cause of workers’ compensation claims and the leading cause of occupational injury for people over the age of 55, especially at construction site jobs. But slip and falls are not only an occupational hazard. Half of all accidental deaths inside homes are caused because of a fall. Most of these injuries occur at ground level, not from falling off of a high point.
In 2018, there were 4,493 preventable deaths that occurred in work environments. Slips and falls make up a large portion of these deaths. And unfortunately, many slip and fall accidents are incredibly preventable. According to the National Safety Council, falls are 100% preventable, and businesses should be taking reasonable steps to make sure they don’t occur to both employees and guests.
Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents can occur pretty much anywhere: outside, inside a store, at work, or at your neighbor’s house. The main causes of slip and fall accidents are wet or icy surfaces, uneven surfaces, weather conditions, improper training, and nursing home neglect.
Uneven and Hazardous Surfaces
Uneven or hazardous surfaces are one of the two most common causes of slip and fall cases. These situations are caused by hazards like loose floorboards, clutter on the floor, potholes, broken sidewalks or pavement, torn carpeting, or broken staircases.
Wet and Icy Surfaces
Wet and icy surfaces make up the second most common cause of slip and fall accidents in North Dakota. These hazards include icy stairs, recently mopped or waxed floors, spills on the ground, and water collection from something like a drip.
Weather Conditions
Weather conditions are another leading cause of slip and fall accidents. The biggest culprit is winter conditions, especially here in North Dakota. Businesses are responsible for clearing snow and ice in a timely manner after a winter storm. While snow and ice are the leading causes of weather related injuries, rain is also a common cause of slip and falls. After snowy, icy, or rainy conditions, it is the responsibility of the property or business owner to clearly mark the hazard and clean it up if possible. In situations were the owner fails to take proper precautions, they may be responsible for slip and fall incidents.
Improper Training
Falls commonly occur in workplaces.. These falls can be caused by improper training and are often more dangerous than slipping on ice or a spill. Construction workers who aren’t properly trained on protocol may fall from large heights, or slip and fall while operating a piece of machinery like hand forklift. It is not only the employee’s job to remain safe, but the employer’s job to provide proper safety training and follow through on safety guidelines.
Nursing Home Neglect
Nursing homes also experience lots of slips and falls each year. These types of falls almost always result in severe injuries, as the elderly are much more fragile when it comes to falling or slipping. Our older loved ones can end up with a fractured hip, or other complicating conditions, because of slip and fall which could have tragic results. These injuries have a higher chance of being life threatening because of their age and fragility. Slip and falls can happen more frequently in a nursing home when the staff is negligent in their care or cleaning. Because of the risk to the safety of our aging population, it is extremely important that we hold nursing homes to a high standard.
What to Do After a Slip and Fall
After you suffer a slip and fall injury, be sure you don’t give a statement to the store or property owner. Don’t admit fault, or give any details that might make you seem like you were at fault.
You’ll then want to get the names of the owners and managers of the property and write down any names and contact info of any witnesses. Be sure to collect photos and documentation of the incident, if possible.
And of course, always make sure you get medical attention right away, whether you believe that you’re injured or not. It is not uncommon for injuries to manifest later after the adrenaline and shock wears off.