If you are an older adult, a fall could shatter many aspects of your daily life. For example, you could lose your ability to continue living independently, struggle with high levels of physical pain, miss out on activities you have enjoyed for many years and face financial hardships due to medical expenses.
Sadly, a lot of older adults are especially vulnerable after falling down, and many of these accidents occur because of the negligence of another party. It is crucial for older adults and their loved ones to review data on fall-related accidents in order to understand the prevalence and consequences of these accidents.
Statistics on falls and older adults in New York
The Department of Health published statistics on fall-related accidents involving older adults (those 65 and over) in the state of New York. According to data, more than 300 older adults visited emergency rooms after falling down every day during 2014, and these accidents resulted in 143 hospitalizations and 3 deaths each day. Between 2000 and 2014, older adult deaths attributed to falls increased by 33%, and hospitalizations went up by over 4%.
In fact, the Department reports that falls cause more older adults to become hospitalized, visit emergency departments and lose their lives than any other type of injury.
Recovering from a fall as an older adult
In the wake of a fall-related accident, you could have many physical, mental and financial hurdles to deal with. However, you need to stand up for your rights if the accident occurred because of a negligent business owner or property owner. Make sure you examine all options and stay focused on seeking justice.