Slip & Fall Accidents

Over a million emergency room visits are attributed to slip and fall accidents each year in the U.S. Though often minor and resulting in a bump or bruise, slip and fall injuries can result in significant personal injury, like head trauma and broken bones, and be especially detrimental to the elderly. In fact, falls are the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for those aged 65 and older. As slip and fall attorneys for the elderly in Providence, Rhode Island, we help people hurt in all types of accidents including car accidents, motorcycle crashes, and bicycle accidents, and know that even one injury to an older person can result in a sharp decline in the person’s health and life expectancy. If you, or a loved one, have been hurt during a slip, trip, or fall, you may be eligible to seek compensation for your damages. Consult the experienced Rhode Island slip and fall lawyers at Tapalian Law who have helped countless residents in Rhode Island and Massachusetts gain rightful compensation for their losses after being hurt in a dangerous fall.

When an elderly person experiences a fall, injuries are typically more severe and can be life-threatening. Breaking a bone, particularly a hip, can result in a sharp decline in an elderly person’s health. Over 95% of hip fractures are caused by falling and past research suggests that at least one in four seniors dies within one year of breaking a hip. Falls are also the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Common fall-related injuries to older adults include:

• Broken bones, particularly hips
• Fractures
• Head trauma
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Fall injuries can be serious and potentially fatal. Older woman in particular are more susceptible to fall injuries due to decreased bone density and osteoporosis. Hips are especially vulnerable to breaks and fractures and a broken or fractured hip can lead to lifelong physical complications and result in the inability of the senior to be independent. Loss of independence, particularly to a normally active senior, can lead to depression and exacerbate existing health conditions. If you have suffered injuries from a slip, trip, or fall, seek the advice of a skilled slip and fall attorney in RI or MA to determine if you are eligible to seek damages.

Each year, three million older adults are treated in the emergency room for fall injuries, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Why is the senior population more likely to experience serious injuries after a fall? There are a number of risk factors that make seniors more susceptible to getting hurt in a slip, trip, or fall, such as:

• Decreased bone density, or osteoporosis, contributing to lower body weakness.
• Medications. Both prescription and over the counter meds can affect balance and cause dizziness.
• Vision problems.
• Foot pain contributing to difficulty walking.
• Vitamin deficiencies.

A person may experience a fall almost anywhere- outdoors, inside the home, in a residential or commercial setting. When the fall is due to negligence on the part of another person or business, such as a spill left on the floor of the grocery store or a broken step leading to a restaurant, seek legal advice from a well-respected RI slip and fall lawyer like Attorney David Tapalian to see if you are eligible to file a premises liability lawsuit. A premises liability lawsuit holds a property owner responsible for damages resulting from an injury occurring on that person or entity’s property. In Rhode Island, owners that occupy a property are obligated to make a reasonable effort to maintain a safe environment for visitors. A failure to do so may result in a “premises liability” claim. There a number of premises liability situations and these are just a small sample of potential slip and fall premises liability circumstances where a person suffering an injury may potentially hold the property owner liable:

• Broken steps
• Uneven, cracked, sidewalk
• Spill or puddle not cleaned up in a timely manner
• Flooring or rugs in poor condition or installed incorrectly
• Untreated snow and ice

Almost half of the falls that occur at retail locations take place in the entryway and often result from slipping on wet tiles or tripping over the curled-up edge of a rug. Snow and ice in the Rhode Island and Massachusetts area are prime conditions for a slippery fall with a disastrous, even fatal, outcome. When someone dies in a slip and fall accident, certain family members of the deceased including a parent, child, or spouse, may be eligible to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the property owner if negligence can be proven.

If you have lost an elderly parent or another loved one to a devastating slip, trip, or fall, accident, contact an experienced wrongful death attorney in Rhode Island to determine your eligibility to file a wrongful death claim. A wrongful death action may result from another’s negligence, recklessness, or inaction, such as the negligence of a property owner to make repairs to a property thereby causing a person to succumb to a fatal fall. The RI and MA wrongful death lawyers at Tapalian Law have helped grieving families seek compensation for damages including medical bills, funeral expenses, loss of future earnings, pain and suffering, and loss of companionship. Claims for wrongful death caused by a slip and fall accident can be very complex and experienced legal guidance is crucial to the success of your legal claim.

When you are injured in a fall caused by the negligence of another person or business, contact the slip and fall lawyers at Tapalian Law. Attorney David Tapalian is a personal injury attorney helping Rhode Islanders recover compensation after a slip, trip, or fall accident and will provide a free consultation to determine if you are eligible to file a claim to seek damages for the harm you incurred. Call Tapalian Law today at 401-552-5000, or contact us with our online form. With convenient locations in Providence, RI, Warwick, RI, and Seekonk, MA, our personal injury lawyers have over 20 years of experience and will help protect your legal rights after a car accident, motorcycle accident, bike accident, or slip and fall.