When compared with a car accident or an accident involving a piece of machinery, people in Kansas City may be tempted not to think of a slip and fall as a major ordeal. Particularly if the fall is from the same height, it may just seem that the worst case scenario is some embarrassment and maybe a bruise or two.
The reality, though, is that even what seem like minor falls can leave a person seriously injured, if not permanently disabled. Broken bones after a fall are not uncommon, for instance, and they can mean weeks or even months of recovery.
Perhaps more concerningly, falls are the second leading cause of spinal cord injuries. Around 13% of new spinal cord injuries each year are attributable to falls from various heights. When it comes to victims over the age 65, most spinal cord injuries are in fact related to falls.
As many Kansas City residents already know, a spinal cord injury can at worst leave a person paralyzed from her neck down. At best, the injury will significantly affect her overall mobility. In either case, the victim’s life will not be the same, and she will mostly certainly have to pay for medical bills and ongoing care.
Moreover, it is important to remember that people today are capable of working later and later in to their lives. This means that even someone in his sixties may miss out on years of being able to earn a salary should he fall and suffer an injury to the spine.
Many times, falls are preventable. Property owners, both businesses and otherwise, have an obligation to keep their premises safe both for the public and those who are invited on to the property. If they fail in this obligation, and a victim suffers a serious fall as a result, the victim may be able to bring a personal injury case.
