When Can Slip and Fall Accidents Result in Wrongful Death?

 Posted on September 13,2021 in Slip and Fall

It may seem like a slip and fall accident would only result in minor injuries. Even in serious cases, most people would expect a victim’s injuries to be limited to issues such as broken bones or dislocated joints that can be painful and debilitating but not permanent. However, situations where these types of accidents lead to fatal injuries are much more common than most people would expect. In fact, falls account for around 23 percent of all preventable deaths in the United States, adding up to almost 40,000 wrongful deaths each year. When fatal slip and fall accidents occur when a person was on someone else’s property, the property owner may be held liable for any form of negligence that led to the accident.

Causes of Fatal Slip and Fall Accidents

A fall accident can be fatal if it causes a person to strike their head on the ground or another object. This can result in traumatic brain injuries, and depending on the force of the blow, these types of injuries can be severe enough to cause permanent, irreparable brain damage. If a person’s skull is fractured, pieces of bone or foreign objects may penetrate the skull and damage brain tissue. If brain damage is severe, it may cause a person to fall into a coma or permanently lose consciousness, or brain function may cease altogether, leading to death. Head injuries may also cause hemorrhaging of blood inside the cranium, placing pressure on the brain that may lead to death.

While fatal brain injuries can occur in any type of slip and fall accident, they are more likely if a person falls from a significant height. These types of accidents can occur on stairways or in stairwells at buildings such as malls or department stores, and a person may fall due to damaged steps, broken handrails, or inadequate lighting. A person may also fall from an upper level to a lower level due to missing or damaged railings, and head or neck injuries in these cases can be fatal.

Nursing homes are another common location for fatal slip and fall injuries. Nursing home residents may be unsteady on their feet, and they may fall due to hazards such as slippery floors, torn carpets, missing floor tiles, or electrical cords or other obstacles in rooms or hallways. Residents who are elderly or infirm are much more likely to suffer fatal injuries due to falls.

Contact Our Palatine Slip and Fall Injury Lawyers

If your loved one has been killed in a slip and fall accident, Newland & Newland, LLP can help you identify the person or parties who were responsible and take legal action to recover compensation. We will fight to ensure that you will be fully compensated for the loss of your loved one, the ways you have been affected, and any expenses related to the accident. Contact our Arlington Heights wrongful death attorneys today by calling 847-797-8000 to set up a free consultation.

Sources:

https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/all-injuries/deaths-by-demographics/top-10-preventable-injuries/

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=2048&ChapterID=57

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=2059&ChapterID=57