Are spinal cord injuries a slip-and-fall risk?

A slip-and-fall injury might sound mild at first. Most people have experienced a slip-and-fall that results in little more than soreness in the immediate aftermath. This is not the case with all falls, however. In fact, these falls can be more dangerous than you might immediately expect. 

Spinal cord injuries can be the result of an accidental fall, states the Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine. 

Which falls lead to spinal cord injuries? 

A spinal cord injury can happen to anyone. If you have a sidewalk or store with obstacles to trip over or slick floors to navigate over, it is easy to fall. The falls most associated with spinal cord injuries are not from great heights. In fact, 20 percent of fall-induced spinal injuries happen due to slipping or tripping on the same level. 

Who is at risk of spinal cord injuries? 

While anyone can suffer a serious injury after a slip-and-fall, the elderly have the most risk. Person who are over 76 years of age are more likely to experience serious injuries due to a fall. Often the elderly will spend more time in the hospital, will have higher healthcare costs and more complications. For persons 61 and older, you are more likely to suffer an SCI if you fall at ground level. 

To fall and injure yourself in a business or on a business’s property, you must be able to prove negligence. Spinal cord injuries have notoriously long-term effects on your health. As medical bills skyrocket, there are opportunities to hold the liable party accountable. Visit our web page for more information on this topic.