Slip & Fall Attorneys

Fall injuries are a leading cause of emergency room visits nationwide and the leading cause of traumatic injury and death for older adults. 

When injury occurs on someone else’ property, as a result of a dangerous or hazardous condition, victims may be entitled to compensation by making a premises liability claim. A victim’s rights to make a claim are determined by his or her status as a visitor to the property. Under Colorado law, a property owner’s obligations to visitors and guests are determined by whether the victim is an invitee, licensee or trespasser. 

• An invitee is owed the highest duty of care. This person is at a location to conduct business for the benefit of the property owner or tenant. In such cases, the landowner, tenant, or other responsible party is obligated to use reasonable care to protect against known dangers, or dangers that should have been discovered. 
• A licensee is on a property for his or her own interests, such as guests to a private home. In such cases, a property owner must use reasonable care regarding known dangers, and must use reasonable care to warn about existing dangers. 
• In most cases, a trespasser may only collect damages for injuries that are willfully or deliberately caused by a property owner or responsible party. The state’s attractive nuisance doctrine makes an exception in some cases involving small children, who may make a claim when lured onto a property by a hazardous condition. 

Common scenarios resulting in fall injuries include: 

• Falls on wet or slippery surfaces.
• Falls due to rugs, mats, or carpeting that is loose, rolled, slippery or creating a trip hazard.
• Falls due to uneven flooring.
• Falls due to broken or damaged sidewalks or parking surfaces.
• Falls due to missing or inadequate hand railings.
• Falls resulting from poor lighting.
• Falls resulting from obstructions, such as stacked merchandise of walkway obstructions.
• Falls resulting from snow and ice.

Common serious injuries resulting from falls include: 

• Traumatic brain injury: A simple fall to the ground can be fatal, even for a younger, healthy adult. Head injuries are the most common result of death. Even less serious head injuries can result in concussions or permanent impairment.
• Broken bones: Broken bones are common, particularly to the extremities. Hands, wrists, arms, as well as feet, ankles and legs are most often impacted. 
• Broken joints: Hips, knees and shoulders are most commonly impacted, often requiring surgical repair or artificial joint replacement. 

Fall Injuries Involving Older Adults

Senior citizens are at particularly high risk of fall accidents and serious, debilitating injuries.

Fatal fall injuries have increased by about 50 percent among older adults in the last 20 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 3 million senior citizens are treated in emergency departments each year as a result of fall injuries, and more than 800,000 are hospitalized.

Nursing home falls are another serious threat. Even though residents are often placed in professional care, precisely because they need  extra assistance and supervision to stay safe, more than 1.5 falls occur per nursing home bed, per year. Inadequate supervision is the most common cause. 

Older adults are disproportionately impacted by the risks for a variety of reasons:

• They are more likely to suffer one or more age-related condition that make a fall more likely, including degraded hearing, eyesight and reflexes.
• They are more likely to be dealing with medical conditions that can increase fall risks, including diabetes, heart disease, and high or low blood pressure. 
• They are more likely to be taking medications commonly prescribed to the elderly that may also make a fall more likely. 
• Older adults are more likely to be seriously injured, take longer to heal, and are less likely to make a full recovery. 
• Seniors are more likely to suffer long-term physical and psychological consequences of a fall, including a fear of falling that reduces mobility, independence and quality of life. 

Proving Fall injury Claims in Colorado Springs

However, that does not mean seniors are less eligible to collect damages. Contacting an experienced Colorado Springs slip & fall attorney as soon as possible after an injury accident is the best way to protect your rights. Particularly when a fall occurs on commercial property, landowners, tenants and other responsible parties are quick to address dangerous conditions that resulted in a fall, making early documentation critical to a successful claim. 

Identifying all responsible parties is also critical. Those responsible for fall injuries may include: 

• Property owners
• Business owners
• Tenants
• Property or facility managers
• Event organizers, planners or managers
• Maintenance contractors

Identifying all responsible parties is critical to making a comprehensive claim for damages. Older adults are more likely to be blamed for falling, which makes seeking a Colorado Springs fall injury law firm with extensive experience, and access to the medical experts that can prove your case, critical to a successful claim. 

Pribila and Fields PC, represents clients in personal injury and wrongful death litigation in Colorado Springs, El Paso County and the surrounding areas, including, Security-Widefield, City of Fountain, Cimarron Hills, Fort Carson, Black Forest, Woodmoor, City of Woodland Park, Stratmoor, Air Force Academy, Gleneagle, Town of Monument, City of Manitou Springs, Town of Palmer Lake, Cascade-Chipita Park, City of Cripple Creek, and Ellicott.

If you have been injured in an accident, contact the Colorado Springs slip & fall lawyers at Pribila and Fields PC for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights. Call 719-888-3720.