Fatality on Icy Pavement Provides Warning That Slip and Fall Accidents Can Cause Serious Injury in Georgia
We have all had the experience of tripping on uneven ground or slipping on icy pavement. Typically, we get back up with a sheepish, embarrassed expression knowing that the only real injury was to our pride. A fatal slip and fall by Conyer Baldwin, 82, of Marietta on ice outside his home late Wednesday night serves as a warning that slip and fall accidents can be much more than a minor inconvenience or blow to one's ego.
Baldwin fell and struck his head on the ground resulting in serious head injuries that led to his tragic death. Georgia slip and fall accidents especially on a smooth, slick icy surface can result in catastrophic life-changing injuries and even wrongful death.
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) over one million people suffer a slip, trip, and fall injury in the U.S. annually resulting in 17,000 deaths. Serious injury from a slip and fall accident is far more common than many people assume with the CDC reporting that 20% to 30% of slip and fall accident victims suffer moderate to severe injuries such as broken bones, hip fractures, or head injuries. Slip and fall accidents often have a negative impact on an accident victim's quality of life significantly limiting a victim's mobility and independence. Many slip and fall accident victims like Baldwin are senior citizens who suffer traumatic brain injuries (TBI), which are responsible for 46 percent of fatal falls among senior citizens in the U.S. Slip and fall accidents also are responsible for 25 percent of all serious work-related injuries and are the leading cause of workplace fatalities.
A slip and fall accident can mean both extraordinary pain and suffering and long grueling periods of rehabilitation and recovery. Serious slip and fall accidents are the second leading cause of accident-related disability and fatalities, exceeded only by motor vehicle accidents. The medical costs associated with a slip and fall accident can be staggering. The average medical expense associated with a slip and fall injury accident is in excess of $28,000. Given the devastating physical, emotional and financial consequences of a fall on icy pavement, the potential impact of a Georgia slip and fall accident should not be underestimated.
It is all to easy to assume that slip and fall accidents only happen to other people. This is simply not the case as over half of all people over the age of 40 will suffer a debilitating slip and fall accident during their lifetime. Georgia slip and fall accident claims or lawsuits involving serious falls on ice can be complex. If you are involved in a serious slip and fall, especially one involving icy pavement or some other natural weather-related condition, it is important to get prompt legal advice from an experienced Georgia slip and fall attorney because the insurance company or the defendant's attorney may rely on a multitude of defenses including the following:
• We did not know and had no reason to know of the icy sidewalk
• We took reasonable measures to prevent slippery ice on the sidewalk
• Your own inattention and carelessness caused your slip and fall accident
• Your injuries are minor or non-existent
• Any injuries you suffered were caused by something other than your slip and fall
• We did not have sufficient time to respond to the ice hazard on the sidewalk or other pavement
• Someone else created the conditions that caused the sidewalk to become icy
• A company with a good reputation that was carefully screened was responsible for clearing ice and snow so it is their fault
These are just a few common examples of defenses that are commonly used in a slip and fall accident lawsuit involving an icy walkway. The best Georgia slip and fall attorneys will be intimately familiar with the appropriate arguments and evidence to address these defenses. If you or someone you love has been injured in a serious slip and fall accident on an icy road, crosswalk, sidewalk or other surface, Montlick and Associates can represent you as we have Georgia residents injured in slip and fall accidents on ice for over 39 years.
Our Georgia slip and fall accident attorneys are available to assist clients throughout all of Georgia, including but not limited to Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Gainesville, Macon, Marietta, Rome, Roswell, Savannah, Smyrna, Valdosta, Warner Robins and all smaller cities and rural areas in the state. No matter where you are located we are just a phone call away, and we will even come to you. Call us 24 hours a day/7 days a week for your Free Consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333). Or visit us online at www.montlick.com where you can use our Free Case Evaluation Form or 24 hour Live Online Chat.