St. Petersburg Accident Blog

Fall Accidents Among Senior Citizens in Florida

Falls can be serious and every year thousands of senior citizens are injured by these accidents.  According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than one third of adults age 65 and older fall each year in the United States.  The problem is so severe that falls are the leading cause of injury deaths among senior citizens and the most frequent cause of nonfatal injuries and hospitalizations.

How many older adults are affected by fall accidents?  The CDC reports that 15,800 people 65 and older died from fall injuries and 1.8 million were treated in emergency departments for nonfatal injuries from falls in 2007.  Among those injured, 433,000 were hospitalized.  The number of deaths caused by falls has increased dramatically over the last decade.

According to the CDC, 20 to 30 percent of fall victims sustain moderate to severe injuries, including bruises, hip fractures and head traumas.  Falls are also considered to be the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries.  In 2000, traumatic brain injuries accounted for 46 percent of fatal falls among senior citizens. 

Statistics show that men are more likely to die from a fall than women, but women are more likely to sustain a nonfatal fall injury.  Older women are twice as likely to suffer from a fall-related fracture as men in the same age group.

Even when an older adult is not injured in a fall accident, he or she may still experience emotional stress, as a fear of falling develops.  This fear can cause older adults to restrict their activities, which can lead to reduced mobility and physical fitness.

*Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Falls Among Older Adults: An Overview

Fall Accidents Can Result in Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

It’s hard to imagine that a slip and fall accident can lead to serious injuries, including a traumatic brain injury (TBI).  Most people associate fall accidents with broken bones, bruises or sprains, but according to the Brain Injury Association of America, falls are a leading cause of traumatic brain injury, accounting for 28 percent of TBI cases every year.

A traumatic brain injury disrupts the function of the brain and can cause major problems for the victim.  For example, TBI can affect language, thinking, learning, sensation, emotions and behavior.  In some cases, traumatic brain injury has resulted in epilepsy and can increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and other serious brain disorders.

When someone slips and falls, if there is a sudden blow or jolt to the head, it can cause irreversible brain damage.  Even though treatment is available for a patient with a traumatic brain injury, the injury can still be life-altering.  Surgery is often required for victims of traumatic brain injury and rehabilitation is commonly used to improve their situation.

Medical treatment for TBI caused by a fall accident can be expensive over the victim’s lifetime.  If the slip and fall accident occurred on someone else’s property, including office buildings, parking lots, grocery stores and apartments complexes, the property owner can be held liable.  When a property owner is found to be responsible for the injuries, compensation can be pursued, which will help cover the costs of medical treatment and lost income.

If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident or have a family member who has sustained a traumatic brain injury resulting from a fall, contact the Law Offices of William K. Saron at (866) 836-4947 or (727) 345-4566.

The article, “Traumatic Brain Injury Caused By Slip and Fall Accident,” has more information on this topic.

Symptoms of a Serious Head Injury

Head injuries are often serious and require extensive medical treatment.  If you have sustained a head injury in a car accident, slip and fall, assault or work-related accident, you need to be aware of the warning signs of a more serious head injury. 

A head injury, which is also referred to as a brain injury, contusion, concussion or head trauma, can be defined as a trauma to the head that leads to injury to the scalp, skull or brain.  This type of injury can range in severity, from a minor bump on the head to a traumatic brain injury (TBI).  Even if you think that your head injury is only minor, you need to watch for symptoms that would indicate a serious problem.

A serious head injury can have any of the following symptoms:

• Fatigue
• Vomiting
• Loss of consciousness
• Seizures
• Severe headache that won’t go away or gets worse
• Fluid draining from the nose, mouth or ears
• Stiff neck
• Drop in blood pressure
• Changes in the pupils
• Swelling at the injury site

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms of a head injury, you need to seek medical attention immediately.  The doctor will be able to determine the severity of your head injury and the type of treatment that will be needed.  If your head injury is minor, bed rest and over-the-counter pain medication will most likely be recommended.  A serious head injury could require surgery.

In some cases, a head injury can lead to permanent brain damage, which can cause changes in behavior, speech problems, loss of hearing, vision, taste or other sensation, seizures, paralysis or coma.  Even though it is impossible to reverse brain damage, a medical provider can take measures to prevent further injuries and improve the victim’s quality of life.

Contact the Law Offices of William K. Saron at (866) 836-4947 or (727) 345-4566 for advice regarding your case. 

The article titled, Compensation for a Serious Head Injury, discusses the monetary damages that are available in serious head injury cases.