From a young age, most Georgia residents experience numerous falls. Whether the falls took place while climbing trees as a kid or while going about a daily activity as an adult, falls can cause serious injuries. Unfortunately, older individuals may be more susceptible to such injuries.
While a person’s health, age and abilities could affect their chances of a fall, the conditions of an area can also contribute. You may work to maintain a relatively hazard-free home, such as keeping your yard clean from trip hazards and ensuring that steps leading to your porch have a rail. However, owners of public places or even friends at their own homes may not be as conscious about slip-and-fall hazards as they should be.
Causes of falls
Slip-and-fall and trip-and-fall accidents are more serious than many people may believe. If you have an older loved one, you may worry about possible fall risks at home, and you do your part to reduce those hazards. However, if your loved one is still able to get out and about, you may not be able to account for issues in stores, other public places or even friends’ residences. These issues are not uncommon in various places:
- Upturned entryway mats
- Torn carpeting
- Broken or uneven steps
- Broken or uneven sidewalks
- Lack of railings on stairs
- Poor lighting inside and outside buildings
Of course, numerous other factors like uncleaned spills, icy sidewalks, wet floors and others could also contribute to falls.
Aftermath of a fall
While some people may think a fall in public or at a friend’s home is nothing more than something embarrassing, serious injuries can result from a slip-and-fall or trip-and-fall accident. In fact, head injuries and broken bones, including hips, ankles, arms and wrists, can easily occur. Of course, these injuries could have major effects on anyone of any age. Unfortunately, a serious fall could result in fatal injuries, especially to older individuals.
Seeking compensation
If you or a loved one tripped or slipped on public property or even at another person’s home and suffered injuries, you may have reason to seek compensation for those injuries and other resulting damages. It can be difficult to navigate the legal proceedings involved with a civil claim, so it may be wise to enlist the help of an experienced attorney who can explain your available options and possible outcomes.