Falling-Related Accidents

Every year, millions of Americans suffer from slipping, tripping, or fall-related accidents in nearly every imaginable setting, from the workplace or subway station to the grocery store and in the home. While often seen as unimportant due to their high likelihood, the sobering fact is that these commonplace incidents account for thousands of deaths and millions of dollars in hospital bills and lost job time annually.

Types of Falls

Falls related to slipping and tripping can be divided into two categories:

• Same-level falls occur when the victim does not fall lower than where his feet were placed before the accident. Generally due to such causes as loss of traction on slippery surfaces, uneven footing, and tripping on a crack or rise in pavement, same-level falls make up the vast majority of fall-related accidents.
• Elevated falls are less frequent then same-level falls, but are also considered far more dangerous. Falls from ladders, truck beds or tractors, and down stairs are all examples of this type of fall.

The severity of a fall is as variable as the ways they can occur. Other factors that might determine how serious a fall-related injury is include the surface upon which the victim lands, the presence of potentially harmful objects in his or her hands, and any physical obstructions in the surrounding area.

Contact Us

Falls are slowly being recognized more and more on a legal level for the real risks they present. If you or someone you know has been injured by a same-level or elevated fall, it is important to investigate the factors involved to determine if negligence on the part of an employer, retail establishment, or other party was at all to blame. Contact the Chicago personal injury lawyers of Friedman & Bonebrake, P.C. at 312-466-8200 for more information.