Slips and falls could happen to anyone. Some jobs have occupational hazards, increasing fall risks. Meanwhile, other age groups, such as toddlers, fall frequently as they learn to walk and run. Most of their injuries could be mild, requiring little or no medical care. However, some could experience severe injuries from falls, including seniors or elders.
Elders are prone to falls because they could lose strength in their lower body or obtain balancing issues as they age. Additionally, they could have various medical conditions, causing them to fall frequently. Around 3 million elders go to emergency rooms annually for fall injuries.
Aside from fall risks, they are more likely to sustain severe injuries from slips and falls. Around 300,000 seniors go to the hospital due to hip fractures often caused by falls. These incidents could also lead to traumatic brain injuries and broken bones. For elders, a fall could force them to stay in the hospital and receive extensive medical treatments, raising a considerable bill.
Elders might have limited financial resources to cover medical expenses. The total cost caused by falls went over $50 billion in 2015. Out of that amount, only 75% received coverage from Medicare and Medicaid. If they sustain a severe fall injury, it could cost too much for their health care insurance.
Recovering from severe fall injuries
It might be difficult for elders to completely recover from fall injuries, especially if they worry about paying their medical bills. They might be able to pursue compensation if someone else’s negligence caused or contributed to their slip-and-fall injury.
However, their ability to file a claim could depend on the circumstances of their slip-and-fall accident. After verifying their eligibility, filing a claim could help them recover fully and cover their medical expenses.