Slip and Fall Accidents

Fall injuries account for the largest percentage of accidents among the elderly.

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However, even if you're not elderly, falling is the second leading cause of accidental death in the United States after automobile accidents.

According to a 2006 report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), fall-related death rates for men and women 65 years and older increased significantly from 1993 to 2003. In 2003, more than 13,700 older adults died from falls, making them the leading cause of injurious death among people 65 and older. More men died from falls (46.2 percent) than women (31.1 percent). In 2000, the medical costs for falls among older adults were approximately $19 billion. That figure will greatly change as the population ages and medical treatment expenses continue to grow.

These slip and fall cases involve injuries as a result of falling during daylight hours on sidewalks, wheelchair ramps and steps. "I don't believe that senior citizens necessarily fall more than younger people," states David Sternberg, an attorney at Wapner Newman who works on slip and fall cases. "But I know that when seniors fall, the injuries are likely to be more severe. I also believe that seniors and their families are less likely to seek legal help after a fall, because they attribute falling to the elderly victim being unsteady on their feet when, in reality, that is not the case."

Have you or a loved one fallen? Are you injured or debilitated from a fall that was not your fault? Have you considered consulting a Pennsylvania slip and fall lawyer? The attorneys at Wapner Newman can help you determine what your legal options are.