The Most Common Causes of Falls That Lead to Serious Injuries in Georgia

The Georgia Department of Public Health reports that falls are one of the most significant causes of injuries and death for people of all ages. While it may not be surprising to hear that falls pose a serious risk for older adults, they are also one of the largest causes of injuries for children, teens, and younger adults. And it is not car accidents, truck or motorcycle collisions, or sports injuries that cause the most traumatic brain injuries in Georgia–it’s falls.

Traumatic brain injuries and the other injuries that result from falls can be catastrophic, impacting the ability to function mentally and physically. And many, if not most, falls can be prevented. Understanding the most common causes of falls that result in serious injuries in Georgia may help you avoid injury and know what to do to protect yourself if a fall occurs.

Slips, Trips, and Falls

Friction, gravity, and momentum all play a role in falls, as do slips and trips that commonly lead to them. When someone trips, their foot hits an object while they are moving with enough momentum to cause them to lose balance. Moving too far from the center of balance leads to a fall.

Slips happen somewhat differently. These incidents occur when there is not enough friction between someone’s feet and the surface they are walking on. We are accustomed to a certain amount of regular friction, and when it suddenly disappears, we lose traction and are thrown off balance, often leading to a fall.

There are some precautions you can take to reduce the risk of falling due to tripping or slipping. For instance, it is a good idea to wear shoes with traction, wear glasses or corrective lenses, turn on the lights, and watch for hazards in front of you. However, many of the most effective precautions involve controlling your environment, which is possible at home but not when you’re in a place of business such as a store, restaurant, or hotel.

Reduced Friction Falls

Friction is the force that resists the motion of one surface against another. Too much resistance can cause problems, such as when excessive friction between two surfaces triggers heat. But a certain amount of friction helps us accomplish everyday tasks, including walking. If there were no friction between the bottom of our feet and the surface we’re walking on, we would slide in every direction and find it very difficult to remain upright at all.

Most of the time, our brains anticipate the friction we will encounter when walking, and we adjust the force of our steps to accommodate it. When we unexpectedly encounter a situation where the friction is less than expected, we will find it almost impossible to avoid slipping, and when we lose our balance, gravity often makes it hard to recover, so we fall.

Wet floors are the most common source of reduced friction. While floors may be wet due to spills or cleaning, there are many other reasons a floor can become wet and slippery. Condensation may drip from an air conditioner or form on the floor, someone else may have tracked in water or mud on their shoes, or there could be a plumbing leak.

While wet or oily substances on a floor often lead to reduced friction falls, there can be some surprising factors that cause a floor to be slick due to reduced friction. For instance, powder particles can act like miniature ball bearings, reducing friction between the bottom of your foot and the floor. So, roach powder, used as a common pesticide, could make a floor unexpectedly slick.

Finally, sometimes the friction problem is not between our shoes and the floor, but between the floor and something placed on it. A throw rug or piece of paper can act much like the classic banana peel, sliding abruptly out from under us and leading to a fall.

Tripping Hazards

When we notice an obstacle in our path, we take steps to avoid it. But obstructions are not always noticeable, even when we are looking closely. Some hazards that can catch a foot and lead to a trip and fall include:

• Wrinkles in carpets or rugs
• Loose floorboards
• Uneven sidewalks or flooring
• Cords or wires
• Items protruding from a lower shelf

At home, we can correct conditions that could pose a tripping hazard, but when we are on the premises of someone else, we have to trust that they are fulfilling their obligation to warn us of hazards, and often they fail to do so. When that happens, a premises liability attorney can work to hold them accountable for the resulting injuries.

Other Factors That Can Lead to Serious Falls

Often, it is a combination of factors that causes someone to fall and suffer serious injuries. Lighting is frequently a key issue. If an area is not adequately lit, those walking in it have a hard time detecting slick surfaces or tripping hazards.

Handrails and guardrails are also often a problem. They may be loose, so that those who rely on them lose their balance. They may be placed at the wrong height for use. Or they may be missing entirely.

The owners of spaces open to public business, such as stores, gas stations, bars, restaurants, and hotels, have an obligation to put reasonable precautions in place to prevent falls. For example, if there is a loft space or high deck, it should include a barrier that is appropriately designed to prevent someone from falling off the edge. All public spaces should be well lit to enable patrons to detect potential hazards. When a property owner fails to take appropriate steps to protect people, the owner can be held liable if someone falls and is injured.

If You’ve Suffered Injuries in a Fall or Other Incident on Someone Else’s Property, Find Out How Michael M. Day Can Help

The serious injuries that often result from falls can disrupt the lives of everyone in the family. Someone injured in a fall may never recover fully and may be unable to concentrate or take care of their own needs the way they did before. The injuries will frequently prevent them from working. The cost of care, medical needs, and lost wages can quickly become overwhelming, but an experienced personal injury attorney at Michael M. Day Law Firm may be able to help. In addition, our team knows how to work effectively to recover significant compensation for pain, suffering, emotional anguish, and other intangible effects of the injuries. For a free consultation and case evaluation, call us at 404-480-4284 or contact us online now.