Slip, Trip and Fall Accidents: List of Surprising Statistics

UPDATE: Michigan Slip & Fall Law has changed. The information on this page was written prior to the change in the law and may be out of date. Please Click Here for updated information on the new law for Slip & Fall cases in Michigan.

Slip and fall accidents are more dangerous than most of us realize. In fact, slipping, tripping and falling results in 15% of all accidental deaths in the United States, second only to motor vehicle crashes. Here are some revealing statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the National Council on Aging and the National Safety Council about slip, trip and fall statistics.

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General Slip, Trip and Fall Statistics

• One out of five falls causes a serious injury such as broken bones or a head injury
• Over 800,000 patients a year are hospitalized because of injuries resulting from falls
• More than 95% of hip fractures are caused by falling 
• Falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
• More than 9 million people visit the emergency room each year for fall-related injuries
• Falling once doubles your chances of falling again
• Falls cause nearly one-third of all non-fatal injuries
• Slip, trip and fall lawsuits are the third most common type of personal injury lawsuit, after auto accidents and medical malpractice

Statistics About Slip, Trip and Fall Accidents at Home

• Approximately 75% of falls happen in the home or close by
• 50% of all accidental deaths that occur at home are caused by falls
• Falls occur most frequently in the following rooms:
  • Living room – 31%
  • Bedroom – 30%
  • Kitchen – 19%
  • Bathroom – 13%
  • Hallways – 10%
• Most people fall on level surfaces within the home, rather than from ladders or step stools  
• More than 5,000 people visit the emergency room each year after tripping and falling on throw rugs or loose carpets
• Following poisoning, falls are the second most frequent cause of injuries and deaths occurring in the home
• After poisoning and falls, the most frequent causes of serious home injuries are choking and suffocation, drowning and fire-related injuries such as burns and smoke inhalation
• More than 97% of falls from ladders happen at home or on a farm rather than at a construction site or workplace

Visit our other post for slip, trip, and fall prevention tips.

Slip and Fall Statistics for Older Adults

• Each year, more than one in four adults aged 65 and older experience a fall
• Each year at least 300,000 older people are hospitalized for hip fractures
• Every 11 seconds, an older adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall
• For older Americans, falls are the leading cause of fatal and serious injuries
• 50% of older adults don’t tell their doctors when they fall

Slip, Trip and Fall Death Statistics

• Approximately 30,000 people die each year from injuries sustained in a fall
• Every 19 minutes, an older adult dies from injuries resulting from a fall
• Researchers project 59,000 older Americans, or 162 per day, will die as the result of a fall by the year 2030
• Falls are the leading cause of preventable accident-related deaths for those 65 and older

Statistics For Slip and Fall Accidents in the Workplace

• Slip and fall injuries are the most frequently reported workplace accidents
• The construction industry has the highest frequency of fall-related deaths
• Services, wholesale, and retail trade industries account for 60 percent of non-fatal slip and fall accidents
• Falls are the primary cause of lost time at work
• The average employee misses 11 days of work after a workplace fall
• 22% of workplace falls result in more than 31 days of missed work
• Slips, trips and falls cost employers more than $17 billion a year

If you were injured in a slip and fall accident on someone else’s property, contact us as soon as possible. The Sam Bernstein Law Firm legal team understands the complexities of slip and fall cases and we will fight to win the compensation you deserve.  

Slip and fall law is complicated, but finding the right slip and fall attorney is simple. 

Get your case started today by clicking the button below to fill out a brief form or calling 1-800-CALL-SAM for a free, no-obligation remote consultation from the safety of your home.