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5 Important Facts About Hospital Falls
Jul 27, 2016 by Adler Markoff & Associates
Hospital falls are an unfortunately common occurrence that happens across the nation, to people of all different ages and health conditions. While we obviously associate hospitals with a safe place where we go when experiencing some type of medical ailment or condition, accidents still happen. Depending on the circumstances and the state of the victim, hospital falls can lead to life-changing and serious injuries. The majority of people who are in a hospital are on the road to recovery or are there to be supervised by medical professionals. When they suffer a slip or fall, it could either slow down or ruin all the progress they have made towards getting back on their feet.

Hospital falls can often be prevented if proper safety precautions are taken, but this is not always the case. There are numerous different factors that can contribute to someone slipping or falling in a hospital; from wet, unmarked hallways to lack of supervision. Regardless of the cause, it may behoove you to look into whether or not you have a lawsuit on your hands. Again, accidents certainly happen, but there are also unfortunate circumstances that could have been prevented with a little foresight.

Before we look at a few of the most interesting facts about hospital falls, let’s go over the top medical risk factors that often lead to these types of accidents:

Delirium, sleep disturbance, or problems with the central nervous system (CNS)
Impaired mobility
Certain medications
Frequent bathroom trips
Cardiac drugs
History of falls
Impaired vision
Antidepressants
As always, please keep in mind that this list is far from exhaustive and is simply here to show you what some of the most common contributing factors are in hospital falls. Many different scenarios can lead to a patient falling in the hospital, including lack of supervision and failure to ensure the safety of the patient while in the hospital. If this happens to you or someone you love, it is important that you retain the service of a knowledgeable personal injury attorney to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve for your injuries.

Now, here are 5 interesting facts about hospital falls to help you better understand what a growing problem this is in the United States:

Fractures are the most common and serious consequence of a hospital fall
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), more than 15,000 people over the age of 65 die as a result of falls each year
Every year, 30% of people older than 65 will sustain a fall
Fall fatalities are pretty much equally divided between men and women, but women are more likely to experience this type of accident in a hospital setting
More than 8 million hospital emergency room visits occur as the result of a slip or fall
If you or a loved one has experienced a fall in a hospital or medical facility, please contact AMA Law today. Our slip and fall attorneys have the experience necessary to represent you and ensure you receive the justice and compensation you deserve for your injuries.