Articles Posted in Slip and Fall Accidents

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, falling and fighting are the top causes of eye injuries requiring hospitalization. As the number one cause, falling was responsible for more than 8,425 hospitalizations over a 10-year period. Fights came in at a close second, resulting in nearly 8,000 hospitalizations. During that same time period, researchers at Johns Hopkins University found that the cost to treat eye injuries in hospitals spiked by 62 percent to more than $20,000 per injury. Contact a Boston Injury Lawyer Today.

The Rising Cost of Eye Injuries

Johns Hopkins study: In response to the significant rise in costs, researchers at Johns Hopkins University set out to determine the most common causes of serious eye injuries, and their associated costs for hospitalization. Between 2002 and 2011, the researchers studied nearly 47,000 ocular trauma patients between the ages of 0 and 80. In addition to identifying the type and cause of injury and the associated cost, they also looked at length of hospital stay.

Serious ocular trauma injury: These largely preventable injuries have become extremely expensive to treat. Common eye injuries include orbital fractions and being pierced by a sharp object. Slip and fall accidents were blamed for 3,000 of the eye injuries reported during the 10-year period. “Unarmed fight or brawl” was cited as the second most common cause of eye injuries requiring hospitalization, but it the most common for individuals between the ages of 10 and 59.

Eye injuries in children: For kids under the age of 10, being accidentally struck by a person or object was the number one cause of ocular trauma. But there is also merit to the oft-shouted warning, “don’t run with scissors,” as the number two cause was being pierced by a sharp object, such as scissors.

The cost: Ophthalmologists studying the spike in healthcare costs for eye injuries are not yet certain of the cause. However, they did discover that costs tend to be higher for older patients and at large hospitals. The patient’s income does not appear to affect the cost. The median cost of treating eye injuries rose from $12,430 in 2002 to $20,116 in 2011. According to the study’s lead researcher, Christina Prescott, M.D., Ph.D., “It could be related to drug prices or administrative costs. Either way, it’s clear we need more targeted interventions to help reduce these types of injuries, many of which are preventable. Continue reading

Winter in Massachusetts can be harsh. Snow and ice can make roads and walkways dangerously slick. Property owners have a duty to take reasonable care when maintaining these areas, but multiple factors can influence this responsibility. For example, some property owners live out of state and pay a plow company to remove snow and ice. If the plow company fails to plow in time, and someone slips and falls on the property, who is at fault? Contact a Boston Injury Attorney Today.

Our Boston injury lawyers have decades of experience in handling slip and fall cases.  One of the first questions you need to ask if you fall and injure yourself on someone else’s property is did the property owner take the necessary steps to reasonably clear their property? We can help you sort this of question out. While homeowners have a responsibility to safely clear off their property, business have the same responsibility.

Slip and fall accidents most commonly occur in parking lots and sidewalks outside of businesses. In commercial settings, property owners often contract with outside companies to keep the property safe and in good condition. This is especially true with regard to snow and ice removal. However, customers and the general public are also expected to exercise reasonable care when walking or driving in an area that is obviously affected by snow or ice. For example, if a customer chooses to go shopping in the middle of a heavy snowstorm and he or she slips and falls in the parking lot, the success of recovery in a lawsuit is low. On the other hand, if a snowstorm ends in the early morning hours, and a customer slips and falls that evening because snow still hasn’t been removed from a walkway, the victim is more likely to obtain compensation for his or her injuries. Continue reading

Slip and fall injuries are one of the most common types of personal injury lawsuits. During wintertime, unsurprisingly, there seems to be a hike in these types of accidents, caused by icy or snowy conditions.

Slip and fall accidents are often considered relatively straightforward in terms of liability: the finger can usually be pointed at the owner or possessor of the building or land. Victims who have slipped, tripped and fallen as the result of the property owner’s negligence to heed certain precautions that would have prevented such an accident from occurring, may be entitled to financial compensation for their injuries. Below, we’ve outlined some of the common scenarios which often lead to slip and fall accidents, as well as rules regarding property owners’ rights and responsibilities to ensure their premise(s) are free of slip and fall hazards.

Ice or Snow Outside a Building

Generally, the Massachusetts law doesn’t require a property owner or property possessor to remove ice or snow that accumulates outside his or her building as the result of inclement weather. However, if conditions on the property cause an unnatural accumulation of ice or snow, the property owner may be liable for slip and fall accidents, including when:

– Ice accumulates on the roof and then melts and drips off because of a clogged drain, then refreezes on the ground,
– The surface of a parking lot causes melting ice to form puddles, and then refreeze into ice patches, resulting in slippery surfaces that may cause individuals to fall.
– If a property owner/possessor elects to provide snow or ice removal, he must not do so negligently.

Inadequate Outdoor Lighting

Failing to adequately light an outdoor area may also lead to slip and fall accidents, especially slip and falls in parking lots, trips over curbing, falls on a step or stairs from a parking lot to a store, and trips and falls due to holes, cracks, and uneven surfaces. When these types of situations occur, the property owner may be found liable if he or she knew or should have known of the poor lighting and failed to fix the problem.

Parking Lots

Parking lot and parking garage owners are responsible for maintaining the property so that it is reasonably safe for people to access it. This includes filling and patching cracks and holes and ensuring that differences in height from one section of the lot to another are gradual rather than abrupt.

Sidewalks

Generally speaking, a property owner is not liable for injuries sustained as the result of a slip and fall on a public sidewalk located outside his or her property (property that is owned and maintained by a city or town). In some cases however, an owner may be responsible if a victim sustained an injury on a private sidewalk used only by customers coming to and from the business.
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With the cold weather come slippery conditions, and an increased risk for slip and fall accidents. Whether you are a homeowner, business owner, or are a visitor, it is important for you to understand ways to protect yourself, loved ones, as well as understand your rights in the event you are injured as the result of a slip and fall accident.

If you are a home or business owner, it is important for you to take crucial steps to prevent slip and fall incidents.

Recent precipitation mixed with frigid weather means ice and slippery walkways.

• Walkways, driveways, sidewalks, and other entryways should be cleared of snow as soon as possible, and salt should be put down to minimize the risk of ice and frozen surfaces.
• Lighting systems covering walkways or driveways should be checked to verify they are working properly. Deficient lighting makes it more difficult for individuals to see patches of snow and ice.
• Entrance steps and handrails need to be continuously inspected for damage.
• Interior walking surfaces, such as entrances, foyers, reception areas, hallways, and stairwells, are all areas common areas where serious slip and fall injuries can occur, and special attention should be paid to housekeeping in these areas.

Slip and fall incidents can result in painful and often serious injuries. Common types of injuries may include serious bruising, broken bones, spinal cord and back injuries, neck injuries, serious head injuries, or lacerations.
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