If you’ve been hurt after a fall that was no fault of your own, you could benefit from speaking with an experienced slip and fall lawyer in Nashville.

What Are the Risks of Slipping and Falling?

Any time you walk onto a business’s property, you are counting on the property owner to take care of the floors and pathways.

If you slip and fall, you are at risk for a variety of injuries, including strained muscles, sprains, and cuts and bruises. There is also risk for more dangerous results, like broken bones, traumatic brain injury, and nerve or spinal cord damage.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, deaths from accidental injuries are the seventh leading cause of death among older adults and most of those deaths are consequences of falls. Nearly 30,000 adults ages 65 years and older died as a result of a fall in 2016.

Falls are responsible for 87 percent of all fractures among the over-age-65 population and are the second leading cause of spinal cord injuries.

However, people of any age can be seriously injured in a slip and fall accident.

Who Is Most at Risk of a Slip and Fall Accident?

According to the National Institute on Aging, more than one in three people age 65 and older will fall every year. The risk of falling and the risk of injuries from a fall increase with age.

Risk factors include problems with eyesight, hearing, reflexes or balance. Patients who have diabetes, heart disease, thyroid issues, nerve problems or damaged blood vessels can problems with their balance.

Certain medications can induce sleepiness or dizziness, which add to the risk of falling.

What is a Business Supposed to Take Care of To Ensure a Person Doesn’t Slip and Fall?

A business owner and/or property owner is responsible for their premises and surrounding area and needs to make sure the premises are safe. The areas under their domain include:

• Sidewalks within the property should be even and free of cracks and uneven pieces of concrete. The finish on the sidewalk should be a rough enough texture that if it’s raining, the pedestrians won’t slip and fall.
• Any spills should be cleaned completely and immediately. Grocery stores often place a yellow or orange triangle where a mess has been made and then mopped, just in case the area is still too wet to safely step upon. If there is no indication the floor might be wet, you could easily slip and fall just walking down the aisle at a regular pace.
• Rugs and carpets must be secure. If a slippery rug covers a slick floor, the lack of traction between the two can lead to serious injuries for anyone who takes a step on the loose rug.
• Curbs and other changes in the variations of height must be well-marked for pedestrians, usually universally through the use of yellow paint.

If any of these issues are the cause of the injury, the injured party may be able to file a lawsuit against the business for negligence.

How Can a Slip and Fall Lawyer Help Me if I am Injured Through No Fault of My Own?

If you have been injured in a slip and fall incident at a business, there is help for recovering damages. A slip and fall lawyer such as our Nashville specialists can examine the unique circumstances of your case and ensure you receive compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering and other expenses. Plus, our legal experts can determine the exact circumstances on the property that led to your injuries were due to the negligence of the property owner or business owner.