According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fall risks are a serious health hazard for the elderly. Senior citizens above the age of 65 account for a number of slip and fall-related accidents every year. One out of every three senior citizens will suffer a drop accident this year, and among senior citizens, falls are a leading cause of both fatal as well as nonfatal injuries.
In 2013, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2.5 million falls involved senior citizens, and resulted in injuries. In more than 734,000 of these cases, the person had to be hospitalized for treatment of injuries. Seniors who have suffered a slip and fall accident must get in touch with a Bronx slip and fall lawyer for assistance filing a claim.
The kind of injuries that result in a fall accident, like fractures, take a much longer time to heal in a senior citizen, which means that these persons need to take more care about preventing falls. A new study finds that exercise can help reduce the risk of falls in senior citizens. In the study, persons who took only vitamin D supplements were 16% less likely to suffer injuries in a fall. However, those who exercised and took vitamin D supplements were approximately 62% less likely to suffer injuries in a drop.
The increase in the senior population in the United States is something that hotels, restaurants, apartment complexes, grocery stores, supermarkets and other commercial establishments must take into account in their design processes. If you are a senior, who was injured in a fall accident, speak to a Bronx personal injury lawyer about filing a claim for compensation.