Slips, Trips, Falls, Stairs, Steps, Ramp & Code Violations
Slips, trips, and falls are a frequent injury-causing event and in fact, constitute the majority of general industry accidents. Slips, trips, and falls cause 15% of all accidental deaths and are second only to motor vehicles as a cause of fatalities. Thus, safe practices must be followed in order to prevent such injuries and deaths. This is especially true for businesses open to the public and in other walking and working areas open to the public. In fact, in Wisconsin, the Legislature has recognized this through its passage of Wisconsin's Safe Place law, Wis. Stats. §101.11.
Certain areas have specific requirements, perhaps building code requirements, but most of the frequently overlooked areas are general and do not involve a building code. The following are a variety of examples:
 | All public places and places of employment should be kept clean and orderly and in a sanitary condition. |
| Floors should be maintained in a clean and so far as possible, a dry condition. Where areas are known to be slippery or wet regularly, drainage should be maintained or gratings, mats, or raised platforms provided. |
| Every floor and passageway should be kept free from protruding nails, splinters, holes or loose boards. |
| Aisles and passageways should be kept clear and in good repair with no obstructions across or in aisles that could create a hazard. Aisles and passageways should also be appropriately marked. |
| Covers and/or guardrails should be provided to protect individuals from the hazards of open areas, tanks, vats, ditches, and the like. |
| Floor openings and holes, wall openings and holes, and the open sides of platforms may create hazards. People may fall through the openings or over the sides to the level below. Objects, such as tools or parts, may fall through the holes and strike people or damage machinery on lower levels. |
| Standard railings should be provided on all exposed sides of a stairway opening, except at the stairway entrance. For infrequently used stairways, where traffic across the opening prevents the use of a fixed standard railing, the guard shall consist of a hinged floor opening cover of standard strength and construction along with removable standard railings on all exposed sides, except at the stairway entrance. |
| Every flight of stairs with four or more risers should have standard stair railings or standard handrails. Stair widths must also be appropriate. For example, handrails and stair rails should be placed properly, smooth in surface, strong, and have clearance between the rail and wall or other object. Stair treads need to have the proper strength, slip resistance, proper dimensions, evenness of surface, and visibility of the leading edge. |
| Areas must also have proper illumination and general guidelines may be found with the Illuminating Engineering Society. |
Calculating Cost Estimates
| Direct costs include out-of-pocket expenses and charges for the treatment of fall-related injuries. These include costs and fees associated with hospital and nursing home care, physician and other professional services, rehabilitation, community-based services, the use of medical equipment, prescription drugs, local rehabilitation, and home modifications. |
| Direct costs do not account for the long term consequences of these injuries, such as disability, decreased productivity, or quality of life. |
The Costs of Fall-Related Injuries
| The total direct cost of all fall injuries for people age 65 and older in 1994 was $20.2 billion. See Falls causing injury or death to senior citizens |
| By 2020, the cost of fall injuries is expected to reach $32.4 billion. |
Fall-related Fractures
| The most common fall-related injuries are osteoporotic fractures. These are fractures of the hip, spine, or forearm. |
| In the United States in 1989, the direct medical costs for osteoporotic fractures exceeded $6 billion. |
Hip Fractures
| Of all fall-related fractures, hip fractures are the most serious and lead to the greatest number of health problems and deaths. |
| In the United States, hospitalization accounts for 44% of direct health care costs for hip fracture patients. |
| Hospital admissions for hip fractures among people over age 65 have steadily increased, from 230,000 admissions in 1988 to 340,000 admissions in 1996. The number of hip fractures is expected to exceed 500,000 by the year 2040. |
| A recent study found that the cost of a hip fracture, including direct medical care, formal nonmedical care, and informal care provided by family and friends, was between $16,300 and $18,700 during the first year following the injury. |
| The total annual cost of these injuries may reach $240 billion by the year 2040. |
Hazardous property & premises liability
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Falling merchandise | ||||||||||||
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Inadequate security & criminal assaults | ||||||||||||
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Nursing home neglect | ||||||||||||
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Falls causing injury or death to senior citizens
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If you wish to know whether the firm can help with a Wisconsin personal injury or wrongful death case, please call (262) 785-0802 or send email to attorney@frankpasternak.com. Wisconsin lawyers may only practice law in Wisconsin. Wisconsin attorneys may however work at no added fee or expense with personal injury lawyers and wrongful death attorneys outside Wisconsin and Wisconsin lawyers may be admitted to practice on a temporary basis outside Wisconsin. Thus, the firm may help with Wisconsin Personal Injury cases and potentially with cases outside Wisconsin. All inquiries are free and without obligation.
