St. Louis Injury Lawyer Blog

The National Safety Council uses the entire month of June to focus on a number of the leading preventable injuries, including slip, trips and falls.

Falls accidents in St. Louis and elsewhere are among the top causes of unintentional injuries in the United States. Adults ages 55-years-old and older are most likely to be the victim of one of these falls. These types of injuries result in neatly 9 million visits to the emergency room every year.

Our St. Louis personal injury attorneys understand that injuries sustained from these types of falls can result in the inability to lead an active and independent life. Older residents are most likely to die from these accidents, 4 times more likely to be exact, than any other age group.

It is important that everyone take the proper precautions to avoid these falls, especially business and property owners. If a visitor slips and falls on someone's public property, then they can be held liable for injury and other costs. Employers must do the same for employees. As a matter of fact, the National Safety Council reports that roughly 25,000 people are victims to slip and fall accidents every day. These injuries cost nearly $30 billion every year. The average cost for one slip injury is approximately $12,000.

More than 60 percent of all lost workdays are due to slip and fall accidents. This equals roughly 95 million lost workdays for employees every year, according to Liberty Mutual. Compensation and medical costs associated with employee slips and falls total an estimated $70 billion each year.

Residents must do their best to prevent falls in their homes as well, especially those ages 65 an older. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in three adults of this age group experiences a fall that leads to moderate to severe injuries every year. These injuries include hip fractures and head trauma. Death is even a risk of these falls. In fact, in 2007 alone there were more than 18,000 adult fatalities because of these unintentional fall injuries which, aside from death, are the most serious. Of this age group, more than 2 million were treated in emergency rooms in 2009 and another 581,000 were hospitalized.

There are ways to help prevent these falls in your home:

-Clean up slippery or wet surfaces immediately.

-Install handrails or grab bars.

-Improve the overall lighting in your house.

-Get your eyesight checked by your optometrist at least once a year to make sure you prescription lenses are up to date and your eyesight is up to its full potential.

-Exercise regularly and focus on exercises that improve leg strength and balance.

-Review your prescriptions and medicines with your doctor or pharmacist to make sure that mixing them them will not lead to dizziness or drowsiness.

Continue reading "Slip and Fall Accidents Among Leading Cause of Injury in St. Louis" »

June is National Safety Month as the National Safety Council aims to help people keep safe with a list of tips to prevent the most common causes of preventable injuries.

St. Louis Personal Injuries Lawyers encourage you to heed the safety tips and warnings. Summertime is a great time for many to relax, go on family vacations and enjoy the warm weather. But with more people out and active, there is a higher likelihood for accidents on the road, at work and at play. St. Louis personal injury accidents can be painful, costly and time-consuming. Do your best to prevent them.

The National Safety Council presents tips on a week-by-week basis. Week 1 is to ensure Summertime Safety. Week 2 is Preventing Overexertion. Weeks 3, 4 and 5 are Teen Driving Safety, Preventing Slips, Trips and Falls and On the Road, Off the Phone. The issues illustrate an important fact: While we can all take steps to reduce the threat of injury, many accidents are caused by someone else's carelessness.

Summertime Safety: Unintentional deaths reached about 128,200 in 2009, up from 125,800 in 2008. The cost of unintentional injuries to Americans and their employers is more than $693 billion each year.

Below are some tips about common summer activities:

Bicycling tips: Obey traffic rules. Know your bike's capabilities. Ride in single file with traffic, not against it. Make safe turns and cross intersections with care. Always be seen.

Sun and Heat Exposure: Wear a wide-brimmed hat to keep your head and face cool. Wear long-sleeved shirts that are loose fitting and light colored. Carry water and take frequent breaks.

Summer and Alcohol Safety: Hot weather makes everyone thirsty. But alcohol and caffeinated drinks contribute to dehydration and heat exhaustion. Stay hydrated with water and sports drinks, especially if your job requires you to be outside and on the go. Make sure to check with your doctor if regular medications may affect you in the heat. Don't drink and drive or operate a boat. In 2008, 124 deaths and 276 injuries in the water were blamed on alcohol, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

Playground Safety: Each year, more than 200,000 children visit hospital emergency rooms because of playground injuries. Make sure the equipment on the playground is sturdy and not susceptible to falling apart. Report any rusted equipment, exposed footings or sharp edges.

Fireworks Safety: In 2006, nearly 10,000 people were treated in emergency rooms for fireworks-related injuries; more than 1/3 of them were under 15. Fireworks can be a lot of fun to watch, but they must be handled carefully. Fireworks cost millions in property damage and personal injury each year. Light one device at a time and maintain a safe distance. Keep water nearby and stay away from structures. Don't allow small children to handle fireworks. Your best bet is to leave the fireworks to the professionals.

Continue reading "National Safety Month Aims to Prevent St. Louis Accidents and Injuries" »